As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Taipei Medical University shows its presence in international pandemic prevention. The TMU FLYoung International Service Club has launched online services in place of its annual healthcare services to the Kingdom of Cambodia. It will continue to assist with improving local health care and water resources in order to fulfill the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of eliminating inequalities in health and education.
Due to the shrinking of medical resources around the world as a result of the pandemic, the situations in disadvantaged and remote villages have worsened. In 2021, TMU FLYoung have successively accumulated masks, forehead thermometers and other supplies to donate to Cambodia to help with pandemic prevention. Since the team is unable to provide medical and health education activities in person, it has instead adopted online courses on “the respiratory system”, “pandemic prevention” and other important pandemic related topics urgently needed by the locals.
Huang Shao-Hua, a fourth-year student of the TMU College of Medicine, is the leader of this service team. He indicated that 2021 summer service is mainly divided into two major targets: the Cambodia-Taiwan Education Program (CTEP) and the Sunshine Classroom. The CTEP mainly trains local seed teachers in English and computer information. As with previous years, the Sunshine Classroom teaches topics such as trauma care and understanding of the digestive system. However, this year, it will also focus on the respiratory system and share Taiwan’s experience in pandemic prevention. It will also include the concept of “isolation”, emphasize not eating or being together with those who are symptomatic, and observing social distancing. These are essential pandemic prevention measures for Cambodia, where the pandemic is worsening.
With 109 student clubs, TMU has one of the most diverse student activity landscape among universities in Taiwan. 15 of these clubs provide services such as free clinics and medical and health education activities in remote villages at home and abroad. Although many clubs are unable to dispatch their service teams because of the pandemic, the students’ passion for service has not diminished. Some clubs have adopted online operations in the hope of doing their part in global pandemic prevention and medical education.