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The Australian government has announced a new donation worth US$325,000 to assist China to fight severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) with medical equipment and Australian expertise, the new Australian Ambassador to China Alan William Thomas said in Beijing Thursday.
The new assistance package was announced by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer Wednesday, according to the Embassy of Australia in China.
Most of the 325,000-US-dollar donation will be channeled through the World Health Organization (WHO), the sources said, adding that it complements Australia's earlier donation of 775,000 US dollars to the WHO to assist with its broader regional response to SARS across Asia and the Pacific.
Thomas said SARS is a common threat to the region and the world, so Australia has moved quickly to respond to China's call for assistance.
"We are pleased to be able to help the Chinese health authorities and WHO to meet the formidable challenge posed by SARS,as well as to help the many Chinese people afflicted by this disease," he said.
The medical equipment and technical assistance will be used in hospitals, initially in Beijing, for diagnosis and treatment of SARS cases, sources said.
At present, seven Australian specialists have already worked with the WHO and China's Ministry of Health on SARS control.
(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2003)
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