Chinese President Hu Jintao inspected the Disease Prevention and
Control Center in south China's Guangdong Province Monday to obtain
further information on the efforts to control severe acute
respiratory syndrome, or SARS.
Accompanied by leading local officials, Hu, also general secretary
of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, talked
with medical workers who have been engaged in controlling the
epidemic there and 23 hospitals in Guangdong.
Hu
solicited the views of the medical experts on SARS control, who
responded that intensified control efforts, the early
identification of the causative agent, the establishment of an
effective quick response mechanism and the dissemination of SARS
prevention and treatment knowledge are all important in combating
the disease.
Hu
said the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have been
deeply concerned about the SARS epidemic ever since it broke out in
certain parts of Guangdong.
"We are worried about the serious threat to the health and lives of
some people, and we rejoice at the recuperation of SARS victims
thanks to the meticulous work of medical workers," he said.
He
added that, thanks to a series of measures and hard work, Guangdong
has brought the disease under effective control.
On
behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Hu
extended his gratitude and regards to all the people who have made
contributions to the control of the disease, including government
officials and medical staff.
He
said SARS control should be regarded as an important task given
that it exerts a strong impact on China's overall process of reform
and opening up and on the health and lives of people.
He
called for continuous and all-out efforts in the prevention and
treatment of the disease.
"We shall employ every means possible to cure SARS patients as soon
as possible and to prevent the further spread or resurgence of the
epidemic," said Hu.
He
urged CPC organizations and governments at all levels to create the
necessary conditions for medical workers in their fight against
SARS.
(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2003)