On May 26th, during the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “Walk the Talk” event in Geneva, New Taipei City Councilor Chen Nai-yu once again “ran into” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom. She reiterated to Tedros that Taiwan’s medical technology and epidemic prevention capabilities can help the world, emphasizing that Taiwan should not be excluded from the WHO. Tedros not only acknowledged Taiwan’s contributions to global health but also stated, “We work with Taiwan.”
As a member of the Taiwan United Nations Alliance for WHO Advocacy Group, Chen Nai-yu participated for the third time in the “Walk the Talk” event. Before heading to Geneva, she told her children who were reluctant to see her leave home: the purpose of her trip is to fight for the health of every child and parent in Taiwan, stressing that Taiwan should not be left out of global health initiatives.
Chen Nai-yu believes that Taiwan’s achievements in epidemic prevention are widely recognized globally. Taiwan has always been a strong ally for countries around the world in terms of healthcare and human rights. She called for more support for Taiwan to join the WHO because “Health for All: Taiwan can Help!” She also hopes for the government to provide more resources for such efforts, like issuing joint statements supporting Taiwan’s WHO membership or collaborating more closely with civil society groups.
Despite Tedros’ positive recognition of Taiwan’s contributions and the ongoing cooperation between WHO and Taiwan in areas such as vaccines, medical development, and technology, he emphasized that “joining the organization” requires the approval of member countries. While Tedros’ stance of needing member countries’ agreement may seem frustrating, Chen Nai-yu remains optimistic. She believes that Taiwan’s demands have been heard by the United Nations over the years and that Taiwan’s eligibility to join the WHO has become a focal point of international attention. With continued effort, progress can be made.
In the rear of the walking procession, Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung sets off. When he and a group of legislators and Taiwanese civil society organizations passed by the stage holding banners and slogans, the emcee took notice. With fervor, the emcee called out “Taiwan” and waved to the Taiwanese audience, expressing understanding of Taiwan’s situation and voicing support in French: “For the sake of ensuring public health, Taiwan can help.” This sparked cheers from the crowd.
Leading the Taiwan WHO Advocacy Group for the eighth consecutive year, Zeng Cong-kai emphasized the importance of speaking up for Taiwan and keeping Taiwan free. Taiwan’s presence demonstrates to the international community that Chinese people can also implement democratic systems and enjoy freedoms of speech and religion.
Dr. Yang Mei-fang, who has been supporting Taiwan’s entry into the WHO since 2001 from her residence in Germany for nearly 50 years, joined a team of the Europe Taiwan Health Alliance (EFTHA) to support Taiwan in Switzerland this year. She shared that besides witnessing the enduring friendship with her classmates and showing that Taiwanese worldwide fearlessly speak out.
Dr. Yang wrote to the German government requesting support for Taiwan’s entry into the WHO. While the German government responded that they could not intervene in WHO affairs, they expressed sympathy and understanding for Taiwan’s position to the United Nations. She stressed that “health is a human right, Taiwan cannot be absent from global medical health,” visiting Geneva almost every May by “action” to support Taiwan’s entry into the WHO.
To raise awareness about Taiwan and the Taiwanese people’s situation and show support for Taiwan’s entry into the WHO, members of the self-funded Taiwanese student organization “Taiwan Kiddos” expressed that coming to the Broken Chair square in Geneva personally allowed them to feel Taiwan’s energy. Although the number of people present was limited, they highlighted that through the internet, social media, and other channels, more people could see Taiwan’s aspirations. They emphasized that “action is not just for one day” and will continue to share Taiwan’s issues with friends from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
Dr. Zheng Hui-wen, President of the Switzerland Youth Commerce Association, believes that Taiwanese youth are not timid. Whether in Taiwan or Geneva, they strive to speak up for the Republic of China Taiwan and work together for democracy and freedom. Lai Jen-rong, a sixth-year medical student at the University of Debrecen in Hungary, also believes that the young generation in Taiwan excels in various fields, is willing to engage with the world, and Taiwan is not alone in this endeavor.
The North American Taiwanese Medical Association (NATMA) was led by Dr. Yang Zhi-xun on this occasion. Yang mentioned that the main purpose of this trip was to urge leaders and parliaments of countries worldwide to continue to strongly support Taiwan’s entry into the WHO. He called on Taiwanese American communities and Taiwanese compatriots in the United States to hold various activities, presenting the demands “Health for All” and “Taiwan Can Help,” as Taiwan’s entry into the WHO benefits global human health.