St. Jude Hospital (SJH), formally welcomed six medical volunteers from Taiwan's Changhua Christian Hospital, yesterday.

The volunteer group of four doctors and two nurses arrived in Saint Lucia on Sep. 25, and will remain at St. Jude for three weeks. The team will work with SJH staff to enhance the hospital’s services in the areas of emergency medicine, Chinese medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and anesthesiology.

The Oct. 6 welcoming ceremony featured remarks from Minister for Health and Wellness, Sen. Hon. Mary Isaac; Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), His Excellency Ray Mou; and St. Jude Hospital CEO, Dr. Chierry Poyotte.

This is the 19th visit by Changhua Christian Hospital volunteers to SJH since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in July, 2009. The MOU allows for the provision of medical volunteers to St. Jude as well as opportunities for the training and professional development of SJH staff at Changhua Christian Hospital.

The Taiwanese volunteers over the years have included specialists in internal medicine, neurology, and otolaryngology (ENT). During that period, 25 SJH staff members have received training in biomedical, renal dialysis, operating room, emergency room, surgery, administration, maintenance, information technology and health information.

A group of four SJH staff members returned to the island on Sep. 25, after completing a four-week training program in Taiwan.