PR-2210
June 17, 2022
Virtual Global Cooperation and Training Framework (vGCTF) Workshop
on Efforts and Development on Eliminating Hepatitis C
On June 17, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association (JTEA), and Australia Office Taipei cohosted a virtual Global Cooperation and Training Framework (vGCTF) workshop on Efforts and Development on Eliminating Hepatitis C. Since the GCTF’s 2015 program launch, this virtual GCTF workshop is the ninth focused on public health and aimed to prepare health officials and experts to make a meaningful difference in strengthening health security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
The workshop featured keynote addresses from public health experts from the United States, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia on practices and policies to eliminate Hepatitis C, including Taiwan’s effective Hepatitis C Elimination Program, World Health Organization (WHO) guidance for country validation of Hepatitis C Elimination, and national policies and experiences in eliminating Hepatitis C. Public health experts shared their expertise on confronting the disease and experience in enhancing international cooperation with public health policy makers and professionals across the globe.
Expert panelists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control joined the virtual workshop to present an overview of U.S. policy related to Hepatitis C and shared best practices of how to cooperate with the international community to prevent the further spread of the disease. Over 100 public health officials and experts from 39 countries participated in the event. Although Taiwan is prevented from participating meaningfully in the WHO and many other international organizations, Taiwan is a highly capable, engaged, and responsible member of the global health community. Today’s event highlighted the many ways that Taiwan is sharing its expertise with the international community as well as how the global health community shares lessons with Taiwan in order to tackle shared public health challenges.
AIT, Taiwan’s MOFA, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, and the Australian Office jointly administer the GCTF, which serves as a platform for Taiwan to share its expertise with partners around the world.