Funds allow Somaliland to buy prioritized medical equipment
Taiwan on Monday (Oct.3) provided funds from the Maternal and Infant Health Care Improvement Project to Somaliland, allowing the East African nation to purchase urgently needed medical equipment.
According to the agreement, Taiwan is funding US$300,000 (NT$9.5 million) this year, allowing Somaliland to purchase two ambulances, a portable ultrasound machine, an infant incubator, and infant and adult oximeters. Taiwan Representative to Somaliland Allen Lou (羅震華) said his nation is willing to share its experience with Somaliland to help infants and their mothers to have better medical care, per the Somaliland Chronicle.
In order to improve Somaliland’s maternal and infant health care capacity, the Taiwan and Somaliland governments launched the Maternal and Infant Health Care Improvement Project, which falls under the framework of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) Technical Cooperation Agreement, in June. “This bilateral cooperation shows the spirit of Taiwan’s model of assistance, which not only provides vital tangible equipment but also enhances the capacity-building,” the Taiwanese Representative Office in Somaliland said.
The project is a joint effort of the Taiwan Representative Office in Somaliland, Taiwan ICDF, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, and the Somaliland Ministry of Health Development.
Lou said that the Taiwan Representative Office in Somaliland aims to “integrate the ongoing cooperation to maximize the cooperation effect to benefit the Somaliland people directly and without leaving any ‘debt traps’.” He added that he believes after more African countries understand Taiwan’s model of cooperation in Somaliland, they will be more eager to work with Taiwan.
Late last month, wheelchairs were donated to Somaliland by Taiwan’s Pu-Hsein Educational Foundation and Cao Zhong Zhi Foundation.
