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Both Chinese and foreigners are taking a more active part in China's fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), donating money and medical equipment.
Authorized government agencies and non-governmental charities at national level yesterday said they had received at least 250 million yuan (US$30 million) in cash and materials in one week since they began collecting funds to fight SARS on April 28.
The latest donation came from the German and United States governments.
The Thailand-based Chia Tai Group has decided to donate 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million) to the Chinese Government for the anti-SARS campaign, according to Yu Zhongde, director of the group's Shanghai office. The Mengniu Milk Co Ltd has donated 8.6 million yuan (US$1.04 million) and 3 million yuan (US$362,000) worth of milk.
SARS is weighing heavily on hospital resources in China. Medical equipment -- including respirators, bedside X-ray machines and air disinfectors -- are badly needed as the number of the viral contagions keeps mounting, according to hospital staff.
The dedication and devotion of Chinese medical staff in specialist SARS hospitals have inspired an increasing number of people to contribute to the ongoing fight against the deadly lung infection.
Li Chunping, vice-president of the Beijing Charity Society, donated 3 million yuan (US$361,000) to the anti-SARS drive, making him the individual who has donated the most to the campaign.
The Red Cross Society of China yesterday marked World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day -- which falls on May 8 each year -- by holding an anti-SARS activity in Beijing, in which it collected donations from Chinese and foreign businesses.
France Hurtubise, a press officer with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said her organization is launching a US$1.5 million emergency appeal to bolster the response of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to the global SARS outbreak.
Institutions authorized to collect donations include the China Charity Federation, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Health and the Red Cross Society of China.
Donations can take the form of disinfectant, anti-SARS medicine and medical equipment as well as money.
To make a donation, call the China Charity Federation on (86 10) 6608 3260; the Ministry of Civil Affairs on (86 10) 8520 3158/3159; the Ministry of Health on (86 10) 6879 2177/2155; or the Red Cross Society on (86 10) 6513 9999/5933.
(China Daily May 9, 2003)
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