Fiji and Taiwan jointly signed a firefighting memorandum of understanding (MOU) to exchange and strengthen emergency response capabilities in a program that will host training for first responders from Fiji in Taiwan. Fiji’s National Fire Authority Director Puamau Tagivetaua Sowane and Taiwan’s National Fire Agency (NFA) Director General Hsiao Huan-chang (蕭煥章) signed the document at the program’s training course opening ceremony this Monday.
Director Sowane was impressed by Taiwan’s National Disaster Prevention Day Large-Scale Earthquake Relief Mobilization Drill when he visited in September last year, according to Deputy Interior Minister Ma Shih-yuan (馬士元). Sowane then expressed willingness to deepen cooperation between Fiji and Taiwan.
Ma says that in response to the request, Taiwan’s NFA will be professionally training 10 of Fiji’s Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) from April 22 to 29. The instructors, selected by the Changhua County Fire Department, will lead the first responders from Fiji in learning rescue techniques, visiting Changhua Christian Hospital’s emergency and trauma center, and taking part in ambulance internships.
NFA Director Hsiao commented that Taiwan has accumulated rich firefighting and emergency response experience, and that he hopes the cooperation will help Fiji further improve its firefighting and rescue capabilities.