Political Quotes

“in mid-February the World Health Organization began reporting cases of an atypical pneumonia throughout Asia identified as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Since then, more than 450 cases, with 17 deaths, have been reported in 13 countries. As members of the World Health Organization, most of these countries have received assistance in confronting this pandemic, but Taiwan, not a member, has not received any assistance from WHO. The WHO's refusal to assist Taiwan is unfair not only for the people of Taiwan but for the world at large, given the transnational nature of this outbreak. With a population of 23 million people, Taiwan is larger than 75 percent of the countries that belong to WHO and is prepared to contribute meaningfully to the global health efforts discussed at the World Health Assembly, but without membership or observer status, its delegates cannot even enter the room. Taiwan has eradicated smallpox and cholera and polio and has achieved infant mortality rates on par with western countries. Earlier this year, this House passed a bill ordering the State Department to endorse observer status for Taiwan at the World Health Assembly, yet the Bush administration continues to say no. The denial of WHO membership to Taiwan is an unjustifiable violation of its people's basic right to good health.”