BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE – Diplomatic relationships between Eswatini and Taiwan continue to result in socio-economic development for the people of Eswatini. This was recently proven when Taiwan donated medical equipment worth about E8.4 million.
The equipment is to help with the Phase II of the Maternal & Infant Health Care Improvement Project. Improving maternal and child health are key objectives of the National Development Strategy 2022 of Eswatini.
The Taiwan International Cooperation Development Fund (ICDF) has cooperated with Chiayi Christian Hospital, Eswatini Ministry of Health and Swaziland Nazarene Health Institution (SNHI) since 2016, to assist SNHI in improving the maternal and infant health care capacity of Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital (RFMH) and its six affiliated primary clinics in the Manzini region. Based on the phase I experience, this project continues to cooperate with the Eswatini Ministry of Health and expand the scope to cover the selected health facilities throughout the whole country.
Over the past two years, Taiwan has donated medical equipment valued at approximately E15 Million to five hospitals and 48 clinics in the country. These include training for medical experts at all levels, Covid-19 PPE, sanitisers, and masks among other things.
The current project is rolled out in 32 clinics and the equipment includes ultrasound machines and radiant warmers.
