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| UNICEF donates vehicles for rural China's SARS prevention |
| CCTV.COM 2003-05-26 16:05:20 |
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The United Nation's Children's Fund has donated 15 surveillance vehicles to China in a bid to help control the spread of SARS and improve health in rural areas. A donation ceremony was held Monday morning at the UNICEF Office for China in Beijing.
On behalf of UNICEF, Christian Voumard, representative of the UNICEF Office for China, handed the keys of the donated vehicles over to Vice－Minister of Commerce An Min. The vehicles will be used to investigate suspected SARS cases and follow up on people who had contact with SARS patients in two of China's hardest－hit provinces, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia.
Because of the distances involved, the conditions of travel and slower lines of communication, tracking the movements of those infected with SARS is particularly challenging in China's rural areas. UNICEF officials hope the surveillance vehicles will contribute to minimizing the spread of SARS in rural China.
Christian Voumard, representative of UNICEF Office for China, said, "We felt we should extend our hand to the less－privileged provinces to make them stronger in response to the potential increase of the outbreak. We felt it would be very important for them to find out if there are suspicion cases."
According to Chinese officials, 15 countries and international organizations have committed to give economic assistance to China's SARS－affected areas and its anti－SARS program. The government has expressed its gratitude for the global efforts to help China contain the unexpected epidemic.
An Min, vice－minister of Ministry of Commerce, said, "During this difficult time, many international organizations and countries are offering a helping hand to China's fight against SARS. We sincerely appreciate their support. I believe these vehicles will play a vital role in poverty－stricken regions."
UNICEF's donated vehicles will stay for good in Shanxi and Inner Mongolia after they finish their surveillance role in the fight against SARS. They will be used for logistics, transportation, and other hygienic and health building initiatives in rural areas.
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Editor: Inner Wu CCTV.com
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