China's Ministry of Health (MOH) and World Health Organization
(WHO) task force ended a six-day inspection tour in Henan in
central China on Tuesday.
The task force evaluated the severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS) control efforts of Henan, expressing their hope that Henan
would continue to intensify epidemic situation monitoring and
personnel training.
The task force inspected five counties, four towns, four villages
and one community in the five cities, including Zhengzhou,Luoyang,
Zhumadian, Jiaozuo and Xinxiang, eight disease preventionand
control centers, eight designated hospitals for SARS patients,two
village hospitals and 10 fever clinics and quarantine rooms.
Xu
Ke, the head of the MOH-WHO task force, said much had been learned
about Henan's SARS control efforts.
She said provincial and local governments had attached importance
to SARS prevention and treatment with a sound monitoring system and
reporting network established.
The local governments had intensified dissemination of knowledge
about SARS control to the public and established a treatment system
for SARS patients at provincial, municipal and county levels, she
said.
Henan also increased financial support for the key districts and
key sectors.
She praised the great efforts of government officials and medical
staff in the fight against SARS.
Henan has a huge number of migrant workers who are expected to
return to their hometowns soon.
The task force pointed out that those migrant workers will greatly
challenge Henan's SARS control work.
WHO expert James Maguire said he appreciated the assistance of the
provincial government and health departments of Henan and suggested
some provinces, including Henan, increase investment in public
health.
After hearing feedback from the task force, Li Chengyu, governor of
Henan Province, congratulated members of the task force on their
good work.
The provincial government would consider the task force's
suggestions and put them into practice as soon as possible, he
said.
(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2003)
