While remarkable success has been achieved in the SARS prevention and control
work in China, much remains to be done before the epidemic can be eliminated.
Gao Qiang, China's executive vice-minister of health, made the remarks at the
World Health Organization global conference on SARS (severe acute respiratory
syndrome), which opened here Tuesday.
Gao Qiang, China's executive vice-minister of health, made the remarks at the
World Health Organization global conference on SARS (severe acute respiratory
syndrome), which opened here Tuesday.
Vice-Minister of Health Gao
Qiang (R) meets Director General of Taiwan Province's Center of Disease
Control, Dr. Ih-Jeb after the opening of the WHO's first global conference
on SARS in Kuala Lumpur June 17. [Reuters] |
Gao
said the Chinese Government will take more responsibility for public health and
control of infectious diseases.
Gao said China will increase input in prevention and control, improve the
public health emergency alert and response system, and the outbreak reporting
network.
China will strengthen the medical treatment system, particularly the rural
healthcare system.
Gao briefed participants about the SARS situation in China and the measures
taken by the Chinese Government to control the epidemic.
SARS is a disaster to all mankind, and China is the biggest victim of it, he
added.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a cumulative total of 8,460
probable SARS cases had been reported worldwide by Monday, among which 5,326
cases are on the Chinese mainland.
Gao said the mobilization of the public has played an indispensable role in
containing the spread of SARS.
More than 1,000 scientists, clinicians and specialists are taking part in the
two-day global conference on SARS.
The WHO Tuesday lifted a warning against travel to China's Taiwan Province,
which was imposed due to the SARS outbreak.
WHO Regional Director for Western Pacific Shigeru Omi made the announcement
at a news conference on the sidelines of the international conference on SARS in
the Malaysian capital.
Omi said the WHO's decision, with immediate effect, was based on the overall
improving situation there.
The Chinese delegation led by Vice-Minister Gao also includes five health
experts from Taiwan.
In another development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said
Tuesday in Beijing at a regular briefing that the Chinese Government had
promoted the participation of the Taiwan representatives at the conference.
This showed the Chinese Government has always attached great importance to
the health and well-being of Taiwan compatriots and its sincere and flexible
attitude on handling technical issues.
In the medical field, there are frequent exchanges between the mainland and
Taiwan, and the Chinese Government has actively promoted exchanges and
co-operation across the Taiwan Straits, Liu said.
However, Beijing has stressed on many occasions that the Chinese Government
resolutely opposes political activities by any person to split the motherland
under the pretext of public health issues.
Beijing has repeatedly expressed its firm opposition to Taiwan's request to
attend the WHO as an observer, for it is a specialized agency of the United
Nations, where sovereignty is required.
