2023-5-16

The International College of Surgeons (ICS), ICS-Taiwan Section, Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU), KMU Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, and Kaohsiung Humanitarian Care Society jointly convened a special conference for the 10th anniversary of the International Medical Volunteers Mission on April 15. Constance Wang, director general of the Department of NGO International Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was in attendance.

The conference brought close to 20 notable scholars from Taiwan and overseas to deliver speeches and reports on various topics. The event also featured a photo exhibition of the results of international humanitarian and medical relief work over the past decade. The aim of the conference was to reach out to all sectors of society at home and abroad to raise awareness and continue support for Taiwan’s efforts to make international connections through medical diplomacy.

For three years, COVID-19 effectively closed all borders. But ICS-Taiwan continued to play a leading role in international humanitarian missions, bringing together impactful resources from the government and private sector at home and abroad. In August 2021, ICS-Taiwan donated US$100,000 to medical personnel infected with COVID-19 in Indonesia. In November of the same year, they sent 100,000 masks and 5,000 items of protective clothing to Somaliland. In May 2022, ICS-Taiwan raised €50,000 that it transferred through ICS-Poland for humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The donation provided necessities and medical assistance. As soon as the world’s borders started to open at the end of January 2023, ICS-Taiwan recruited volunteer doctors to travel to Mexico and Guatemala to provide humanitarian services.