Vice-Premier and Health Minister Wu Yi, on behalf of the State
Council, China's cabinet, Sunday sent a congratulatory message
conveying her great respect to the country's medical workers,
especially, nurses, on the occasion of International Nurses Day.
The holiday was established to commemorate the birthday of Florence
Nightingale, an English woman born in 1820, who is widely
considered the founder of modern nursing.
In
an open letter to the country's nurses, Wu said nursing work has
always been associated with the spirit of humanitarianism and that
nurses have won the public's respect and admiration since Florence
Nightingale founded the profession nearly a century ago.
In
China, nursing has become an important part of the country's public
health cause, and as of the end of 2002, China had a total of
nearly 1.25 million nurses, accounting for 29.2 percent of the
country's medical workers, the letter says.
Bearing in mind the tenet of serving the people whole-heartedly,
the country's nurses have worked hard and earnestly for years,
making great contributions to the development of China's public
health cause, Wu said.
Especially during the ongoing fight against severe acute
respiratory syndrome (SARS), the nurses have consistently placed
the public's health and lives first, carrying out their duties day
and night to care for the patients. Their professionalism and
spirit have earned them praise, respect and trust from the people,
Wu said.
The Party Central Committee and the State Council have always
attached great importance to SARS prevention work and to the health
of medical workers across the country and have high praise for
their performance.
The letter described the comments and praise as great encouragement
and support for the medical and health workers.
The letter called on medical workers across the country to continue
their efforts to prevent and control the disease as the SARS
situation is still very serious.
Wu
expressed confidence that China will ultimately defeat SARS.
(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2003)