Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)

October 27, 2024  

No. 371  

On October 25, during his visit to Guatemala, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung met with President Bernardo Arévalo, Foreign Minister Carlos Martínez, and other senior officials. He also toured the neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital, which finished construction this year with assistance from Taiwan. While at the new building, Minister Lin interacted with families that benefited from the joint endeavor, giving him the opportunity to better understand the fruits of Taiwan-Guatemala collaboration. 

Hospital Director Erika Pérez and Pediatrics Department Chief Juan Carlos Reyes introduced the facilities and functions of the building to Minister Lin when he toured the neonatal building in the morning. Accompanied by Guatemalan Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance Joaquín Barnoya, Minister Lin attended a traditional Taiwanese ceremony to bless infants and gave gifts to the attending families. 

In his remarks at San Juan de Dios Hospital, Minister Lin stated that, in addition to the joint construction of the hospital’s neonatal building, Taiwan’s technical mission and Guatemala are working on a program to promote maternal and neonatal health care. The initiative will assist in training medical professionals at hospitals and birth centers in Guatemala City to enhance their ability to give women clinical care before, during, and after childbirth and reduce premature birth and infant mortality risks, benefiting 70,000 people each year. It will also arrange for related personnel from Guatemala to travel to Taiwan for training. Over 450 health care professionals are expected to receive training, thereby raising the quality of services available to women and children in Guatemala. It took just 12 months for Taiwan and Guatemala to complete the planning and construction of the neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital, which has helped improve maternal and neonatal care. The important project has been met with wide approval from the government and civil society of Guatemala. 

In the afternoon, Minister Lin called at Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet with Minister Martínez, who invited him to view bamboo planted by Taiwan’s technical mission in the square outside the building. The plants commemorate 90 years of friendship and diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Guatemala. (E)