In light of the growing threat Ebola poses to Taiwanese citizens, Premier Jiang Yi-huah visited the Taiwan Centers for Diseases Control (Taiwan CDC) in the afternoon of October 23 to supervise the ongoing preparedness and response efforts and instructed the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) to continue to reinforce the implementation of all various response measures, especially enhanced Ebola screening at borders, getting hospitals ready to receive Ebola patients, disseminating accurate information about Ebola to the general public through different communication channels, including the toll-free hotline, 1922, in order be ready to respond to Ebola before it reaches Taiwan. To minimize unnecessary exposure to the Ebola virus, the public should be reminded to call the toll-free hotline 1922(or 0800-001922) for assistance in seeking medical attention when suspected symptoms develop. In addition, Premier Jiang instructed MOHW to continue to closely monitor the development of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa and adjust the response measures accordingly in order to ensure the health and wellbeing of the citizens in Taiwan.

During Premier Jiang’s visit, MOHW Deputy Minister Lin Tzou-yen Taiwan CDC Director-General Steve Kuo briefed the Premier on “Taiwan’s Current Ebola Preparedness and Response Efforts” and the six designated hospitals for Ebola treatment also presented to the Premier their current plans for receiving Ebola patients and their existing preparedness and response efforts. Healthcare workers demonstrated the donning and doffing of protective suits to the Premier. Moreover, Premier Jiang also watched the implementation of Ebola screening measures, including fever screening of incoming passengers and submission of “Ebola Declaration Card” , at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport live through videoconferencing.

Premier Jiang approved MOHW and the six designated hospitals for their current Ebola preparedness and response efforts. At the same time, he pointed out that the risk of Ebola being imported into Taiwan cannot be eliminated. On top of that, the subsequent occurrence of Ebola cases in Spain and the US has also highlighted the importance of enhanced screening at borders and the integration of healthcare and public health systems. Hence, the Premier instructed MOHW to ensure all front-line healthcare workers attending to Ebola patients have the appropriate training, equipment and protocols to remain safe and evaluate the best possible compensation benefits for all healthcare workers who have been assigned to care for Ebola patients.

For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at: www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).