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| Rural China － Focus on preventing SARS |
| CCTV.COM 2003-05-15 13:05:06 |
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As the SARS situation in China's major cities, such as Beijing and Guangzhou, continues to be closely monitored and comes increasingly under control, the potential spread of the disease in China's vast rural areas has become the top concern of the nation's prevention work.
At a news conference given by the State Council Information Office this morning （Thursday） in Beijing, Vice－Minister of Agriculture Liu Jian, assured the nation that there had been no extensive spread of SARS in China's rural areas.
Liu Jian, who is also heading the rural group of the National SARS Prevention and Control Headquarters, said the spread of SARS in China's rural areas has only been seen in some provinces.
He said that up to now, SARS cases were found in 85 counties of 15 provinces or regions. During the period from April 26th to May 12th, Liu Jian said the total number of confirmed SARS cases in rural areas was 155, 6 percent of the nation's total number. Liu added that the SARS situation in north China was relatively more serious.
When asked how to deal with the inadequacy of facilities and qualified medical workers in the countryside, Liu Jian said medical experts from developed provinces and military hospitals have been sent to strengthen the prevention work in the countryside and offer training for medical workers in these areas.
In addition, the central government has set up a special fund of 2 billion yuan, or some 240 million US dollars, to ensure all farmers and rural migrant workers in cities would be able to get free treatment once they are found infected.
Moreover, he said the central government has been investing more money and efforts to improve the medical facilities in rural areas so that SARS patients could be admitted to medical facilities in the vicinity of their homes.
He pointed out that currently, most people in the countryside are living a normal life. He added that among the 100 million rural migrant workers in cities, only 9 percent of them have returned to their hometowns.
Liu said governments at all level are trying their best to ensure that the health of rural residents is protected and safeguarded and that the upmost efforts are being made to maintain stability in rural areas.
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Editor: Han Ling CCTV.com
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