Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi said Wednesday that the Chinese
government is confident and capable of controlling and eradicating
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Wu
was speaking while meeting with Henk Bekedam, representative of the
World Health Organization (WHO) office in China and members of the
WHO specialist team who came to China to investigate SARS.
Thanks to the concerted efforts of the central and local
governments and medical workers in China, SARS had been effectively
curbed with a decreasing rate of new SARS cases and increasing
numbers discharged from hospital, Wu told the guests.
Wu
praised the work of the specialist team in Beijing and Guangdong,
commending their hardworking, friendly attitude and diligence.
She urged all relevant Chinese departments to seriously deal with
the suggestions put forward by the experts and make concrete
improvements.
With concerted efforts from WHO and Chinese experts, it was
possible to make greater progress in seeking the cause of the
disease and eventually eradicating it, she said.
On
China's SARS situation and prevention efforts, Wu said SARS was a
new epidemic disease so countries worldwide took time to understand
it. After the outbreak of the disease, the Chinese government
attached high importance to its cure and prevention, she said,
adding that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had made SARS prevention a
priority for the government.
China had urged governments at all levels and all relevant
departments to take effective measures to curb its spread, she
said.
China had already set up an inter-ministerial conference to
coordinate all efforts and a national group headed by a health
minister for SARS prevention and treatment, she said.
The Chinese government had also adopted a series of measures to
ensure the health and security of foreigners residing in China, she
added.
"We will pay close attention to the SARS situation and make further
efforts for SARS control," she said.
The cooperative relations between the Chinese government and WHO
remained good. The two sides maintained close, friendly and
practical cooperation. "The Chinese government is willing to
further strengthen and develop such good ties for the sake of
people's health," she said.
WHO experts briefed Wu on their work in China, saying they were
impressed by the support given by governments at various levels.
They commended the professional and sacrificial spirit demonstrated
by medical workers in China. In their views, Guangdong's experience
in SARS surveillance, epidemic control and prevention in hospitals
and communities, as well as international SARS cooperation was
unmatched and applicable to other regions in China and other
countries in the world.
They said the WHO was ready to strengthen cooperation with China
and provide necessary assistance.
Wu
said the Chinese government would increase investment in public
health and make efforts to set up and improve the public emergency
mechanisms on health issues.
The expert team was here at the invitation of China's Ministry of
Health.
(Xinhua News Agency April 10, 2003)