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| China shares experiences and lessons of SARS |
| CCTV.COM 2003-06-26 09:06:26 |
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Officials and scientists from the National Anti－SARS Command say the SARS epidemic is a good chance for China to build up nationwide public health contingency plans. As a leading nation in the battle against SARS, China has shared its experiences with other developing countries facing the disease.
After experiencing a severe two－month－long test by the unexpected SARS outbreak, China admitted that due to limited financial support, slower development in the rural areas, as well as the lack of action at the initial stages of the outbreak, there were difficulties in getting the virus under control.
An official said the biggest lesson that China has learned from the battle against SARS was to upgrade its public health system throughout the country.
Li Xueyong, vice minister of Science and Technology, said, "We have realized one of the key tasks is to build up a public health contingency mechanism. Such a mechanism should involve a disease information network, an emergency system for epidemic prevention and control, as well as emergency relief and treatment systems."
Though China was the hardest SARS－hit country, experts say its SARS mortality rate was only 6.7 percent, much lower than the world average of 9.3 percent.
Asked by the Wall Street Daily about what experiences China may share with other developing countries in combating epidemics like SARS, the official highlighted the proper handling of three key relationships.
Li said, "We should attach great importance to the coordinated development between the economy and society, cities and the countryside, and humans and nature. I think these experiences will be very useful to other developing and fairly poor countries."
The Chinese government says that in the globalization process, the concerted efforts of the international community are essential to overcoming each individual country's weaknesses. During the SARS outbreak in China, international organizations like the WHO offered their timely helping hands. Currently, both Chinese and international experts are working hard to identify the source of the SARS virus.
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Editor: Yang Feiyang CCTV.com
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