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Sleep deprivation affects Taiwanese students’ well-being
Taiwanese children’s life satisfaction drops below the global average, reports the Child Welfare League Foundation. Academic stress and sleep issues are key factors.2024/11/18 17:01 -
Child Welfare League CEO resigns amid abuse scandal
Pai Li-fang, CEO of the Child Welfare League Foundation, is stepping down amid controversy over a nanny’s alleged abuse of a child. The Foundation vows full cooperation with authorities and promises reforms to prevent future incidents. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.2024/03/18 10:55 -
MOHW orders CWLF to stop admissions amid foster care scandal
Taipei’s MOHW orders CWLF to suspend new foster child placements following a tragic case. Deputy Minister Lee Li-Fen calls for internal review and supervision improvements. Adoption process for existing children to receive heightened scrutiny.2024/03/13 12:41 -
Taipei union defends social worker amid abuse case
The Taipei Social Workers Union protests against the blame placed solely on social worker Chen in the tragic child abuse case involving 1-year-old "Kai-kai." The union defends Chen’s cooperation in the investigation and criticizes undue media attention, urging respect for her privacy. Concerns are raised over the Child Welfare League Foundation’s demands and authorities using social workers as scapegoats. The union questions the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s delayed response and law enforcement’s handling of Chen. As the case proceeds judicially, the union calls for discretion in sharing sensitive information and highlights systemic issues in the social work sector.2024/03/13 11:29 -
Excessive screen time contributes to Myopia surge in Taiwan
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental effect on Taiwanese students’ eyesight, with 81.61% of high-school students, 73.16% of junior high school students, and 45.23% of elementary students experiencing poor eyesight in the 2022-2023 academic year. Excessive use of electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, is a major contributing factor to the prevalence of myopia, the most common eye condition among children. A survey conducted by the Child Welfare League Foundation in 2019 found that the average age at which children own their first phone is ten. Ophthalmologists warn that individuals with myopia over 500 degrees are three times more likely to develop glaucoma and 5.5 times more likely to develop cataracts compared to their peers. The risks escalate for those with myopia over 700 degrees, as they are 44 times more likely to experience retinal detachment and 127 times more likely to suffer macular degeneration. Even successful myopia laser correction does not eliminate the potential risks of ocular diseases, as thinning of eye tissues and elongation of the eye axis persist. The golden period for myopia control is considered to be between 3 to 18 years of age, and various strategies such as increased outdoor activities, the use of mydriatic agents, Orthokeratology, daily disposable contact lenses designed for myopia control, and the latest children’s vision management lenses can be employed. These alarming rates highlight the urgent need to strike a balance between technology use and effective prevention strategies and early treatment for Taiwanese children.2024/01/03 20:06