Despite marked progress in Beijing's effort to control the severe
acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus, the task ahead remains
arduous and complicated, Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday while
inspecting the capital's SARS prevention work.
He
urged officials at various levels to make preparations both
psychologically and practically, and be determined to win the
battle against the deadly disease by strengthening prevention
work.
While visiting Xiaotangshan hospital, Wen highlighted the reliance
on science and called for solidarity between the army and citizens
during the ongoing battle.
The hospital, in the town of Xiaotangshan in the northern outskirts
of Beijing, is part of the massive effort to fight SARS.
The second phase of the hospital's construction was finished in
seven days by more than 7,000 people working around clock. It was
home to 324 SARS patients by Monday.
Wen said medical workers should protect themselves from the disease
and spare no effort during their shifts.
Wen has also visited the village in the Xiaotangshan Town and
discussed with local farmers on how to prevent and treat SARS.
Monday, he urged officials at all levels to be fully aware of the
extreme importance of SARS control and to treat it as a
priority.
Any breach of duty and malpractice will be harshly punished.
Wen said no SARS cases should be missed and it was important to
prevent further infections at the hospital.
He
said treatment for severe SARS patients should be enhanced and the
country's top hospitals should be leading the fight against the
virus, specifically treating infected patients.
Meanwhile, workers are toiling 24-hours a day to transform the
Chinese-Japan Friendship Hospital, a former comprehensive hospital,
into a hospital specializing in infectious diseases.
The biggest part of the plan is the addition of two more intensive
care unit floors with about 40 beds each, which are being added to
the original single floor.
The Beijing municipal government plans to centralize the treatment
of serious SARS patients in the capital to the hospital.
The units require special medical equipment, such as
electrocardiogram monitors and respirators.
Chen Ling, a senior engineer at the hospital, said it had already
ordered about 400 respirators, 50 electric suction apparatus and 50
electrocardiogram monitors.
"We don't know when the equipment will arrive,'' Chen said.
"But as long as the equipment is here, we will work to set it
up.''
Her team is also responsible for showing the clinical doctors and
nurses how to operate the new equipment. Many of them are not
familiar with the latest models.
According to design standards for specialized infectious-disease
hospitals, two isolation doors -- about 20 meters from each other
-- are being installed on each floor between the passageways that
separate the medical workers from patients.
The medical workers live in the eastern part of the building, while
the wards are in the western part of the complex. Special isolation
walls have been built to detach the areas.
In
each ward, ventilation fans and air conditioners have been
installed.
It
is estimated that the transformation project will be completed by
tomorrow, when all wards will be checked.
Since Wednesday, experts like Zhao Tonggang, director of the
disinfection department at Ditan Hospital, have been invited to
conduct training classes and lecturers on dealing with SARS.
Also, to counter the widespread panic over the virus, some
psychologists have been asked to provide consultations for medical
workers.
All of the staff had completed their professional training for the
disease by Sunday.
(China Daily May 6, 2003)