As severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) arouses growing concern
in urban areas of Beijing, the capital's rural residents are also
taking action to stop the epidemic.
The road to Baigezhuang Village in Shunyi District is lined with
banners with slogans like "Let us unite to fight against SARS."
The village of about 300 people lies in northeastern Beijing.
Several residents wearing gauze masks guard the three entrances to
the village. All visitors except locals must register before they
pass through.
The new policy, introduced a week ago, ensures visitors have their
temperatures checked. Those with fevers are refused entry to the
village, said Xiao Yiting, one of the guards.
In
front of Xiao was a table with three thermometers in a glass of
medical alcohol, and a registration book with more than two pages
of entries.
The village has set up an anti-SARS team, with its 38 Party members
volunteering to take turns in guarding the village entrances 24
hours a day, said Zhang Yuying, Party secretary of the village.
In
accordance with the requirements of the Beijing municipal
government, the villagers are taught about SARS prevention in
morning and evening broadcasts. Two teams disinfect villagers'
houses everyday.
Meanwhile, thermometers provided by the local government have been
dispensed to every family. Farmers are required to take their
temperature every day and report any abnormal changes.
"At present, our village has not a single SARS case," Zhang
said.
Li
Suqin, 54, is a member of the disinfection team.
At
villager Zhang An's house, Li carefully sprays liquid disinfectant
in each of the rooms, missing nothing - not even the doorknobs.
She said it is the ninth time she and others in her team have
disinfected the villagers' homes. They have already used more than
200 kilograms of liquid disinfectant.
Villager Zhang An said: "I am not afraid of SARS because the
government has already taken all kinds of measures against the
disease."
The old man, who is more than 70 years old, now cleans his house
every day and often airs his bedding in the sun.
All villages in rural Beijing have set up anti-SARS teams like that
at Baigezhuang Village.
Workers at Beijing's construction sites, who are mostly from rural
areas, have also been told not to go home.
And the ministries of Finance and Health have jointly issued an
order requiring local authorities to pay medical fees for SARS
patients from rural areas and impoverished urban families.
No
SARS case, probable or suspected, had been reported in rural
Beijing as of April 29, Acting Mayor Wang Qishan said on Wednesday
at a press conference. He added that the municipal government has
contingency plans in place to deal with any possible outbreak in
rural areas.
(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2003)
