Taiwan donates 160,000 face masks to missionary's hometown in Ontario

There were recently 160,000 surgical face masks donated to Oxford county in Ontario by Taiwan’s MacKay Memorial Hospital as well as New Taipei City’s District office. Oxford county was the hometown of George Leslie Mackay—a Canadian missionary who founded the Tamsui hospital in the 19th century, reports Focus Taiwan.

Larry Martin, the Warden of Oxford County thanked the Taiwanese community on Tuesday during a donation ceremony.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has affected communities worldwide: we appreciate the consideration for the health of our community and the special relationship we share with the citizens of Taiwan," said Martin.

Alexander Wilson, chair of the Community Advisory Council of Scarborough Health Network and minister as St. Stephan’s Presbyterian Church also showed his thanks to the Taiwanese hospital.

He previously wrote a letter seeking help from the MacKay Memorial Hospital and described the donation as “a dream come true.”

Catherine Hsu, Taiwan’s top representative to Toronto attended the ceremony in Oxford County on behalf of the Taiwanese government.

"The love from Taiwan to Oxford County is a testament to our special historic connection and long friendship for nearly one and one-half centuries. There is no better way to commemorate these anniversaries—and the legacy left by Dr. MacKay in Taiwan—than giving back during these difficult times," Hsu said.

Wilson added that video conferences are being held between the Scarborough Health Network and the hospital with the intention of learning from their experience’s in fighting coronavirus.

Taiwan’s office in Toronto said that there were 150,000 surgical face masks donated by the MacKay Memorial Hospital and 10,000 donated from the Tamsui District office.

Of the 150,000 masks donated by the hospital, 60,000 will go to hospitals and long-term care homes in Oxford County. The 10,000 masks from Tamsui will be distributed among frontline healthcare workers throughout Canada.

The remaining masks will be shared with other church-related institutions.

The MacKay Memorial hospital was founded by MacKay in 1880 and originated from northern Taiwan’s first western clinic—the MacKay Clinic. The hospital is now among the most prominent in Taiwan.

MacKay helped to develop medicine and education in Taiwan when the country was lacking in those areas.