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| WHO initiates setting up surveillance, response system against SARS |
| CCTV.COM 2003-05-23 10:05:26 |
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The World Health Organization （WHO） proposed on Thursday establishing a worldwide system of disease surveillance and response to fight rampant SARS, including building epidemiology and public health laboratory facilities in China and the surrounding regions.
"Despite the rapid and effective response from partners around the world, SARS exposes fundamental weaknesses in global health infrastructure," Dr. Jong Wook Lee, newly elected director general of the WHO, said at a WHO forum held in Geneva.
This flu－like infectious epidemic highlights the need for local and national surveillance and response mechanisms, he added.
Recognizing both the social and economic impacts of SARS, the international business community has pledged support for mobilizing the initial resources needed to carry out this work through a special fund.
The World Economic Forum's Global Health Initiative and the WHO will work together to assemble a coalition of business leaders and committed individuals, who will in turn design the fund and mobilize the resources to fill it, according to a WHO press release.
The WHO said the initial target is to raise 100 million US dollars by September from the business community, especially from companies with operations or markets in Asia.
The WHO will also be working to quickly raise an additional 100－million dollars from bilateral donors to support expanded surveillance and response across the globe.
These funds are just the first step in an ongoing global commitment against the infectious disease threat, said the WHO.
As a result of discussion with Wu Yi, vice premier and minister of health of China, the WHO will intensify collaboration with China. China has also asked the WHO to coordinate bilateral programs that may complement these activities.
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Editor: Yang Feiyang Source:Xinhua
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