A Preliminary Analysis of the History of Poliomyelitis in Taiwan during 1950s to 1960s

A preliminary analysis of the history of poliomyelitis in Taiwan during 1950s to 1960s. Poliomyelitis was a common infectious disease in Taiwan during 1950s to 1960s. This disease has left some patients with paralyses of legs and caused disability. At that time, some religious hospitals started to be concerned about this situation: they tried to obtain vaccines for poliomyelitis, established rehabilitation center and even opened factories for braces through the unofficial international aids. Furthermore, because Madame Chiang Kai-Shek had a good relationship with the American government, Cheng Hsin General Hospital had successfully obtained help from the U.S. Aid and became the most important rehabilitation center for poliomyelitis. The political and social-economic problems were really complicated and controversial. Because people in Taiwan were unable to produce vaccines for poliomyelitis, the economic and diplomatic situations, and their concerns about the safeness of vaccine from other countries had influences on the policies on poliomyelitis. In this proposed research, we I will continue to further explore the outcomes derived from my previous study, “Foreign Aid and Transformation of Medicine and Public Health after the WWⅡ in Taiwan”, analyzing unofficial international aids, the U.S aids, and the influence of WHO on the poliomyelitis prevention in Taiwan. At the same time, because the preventions of poliomyelitis are related to the governmental policies, the public health system after the war, the development and research of the vaccines, the establishment of poliomyelitis rehabilitation and technique, and the relevant issues of medical techniques for vaccines and rehabilitation. As a result, I would like to have further research and discussions on poliomyelitis history, and to rethink the influence of poliomyelitis on the medical treatment and techniques, as well as the society.

Project ID:PE9907-2899
External Project ID:NSC99-2410-H182-016