The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting Thursday to
discuss the further strengthening of control over the Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic.
The meeting, chaired by General Secretary of the CPC Central
Committee Hu Jintao, pointed out that SARS control is having a
significant impact on the health and lives of the people and on the
overall situation of China's reform, development and stability.
The participants urged the CPC and government organizations at all
levels to be fully aware of the extreme importance of SARS control
and to treat it as a priority in their work.
The committee said that, despite marked progress in SARS control
work, the task ahead remains arduous and complicated given that
SARS is a newly-discovered disease. It urged the continuous and
relentless strengthening of SARS control work to consolidate the
successes and resolve outstanding issues.
The meeting urged composure, quick action, reliance on science,
efficiency, cooperation and the improvement of the control
mechanism in the fight against the SARS epidemic.
It
pointed out that the most urgent task is to take immediate action
to control the spread of the disease. To do this, early discovery,
early reporting, early quarantine and early treatment are key to
cutting off the epidemic's transmission route.
The meeting urged the strengthening of the medical force and the
search for more effective remedies.
"All departments must actively support the search for effective
remedies through providing manpower, materials and financing," said
the meeting.
The meeting also urged the establishment of a rapid response
mechanism to deal with emergencies in public health and the
strengthening of international cooperation and exchanges on SARS
control.
The meeting stressed establishing a responsibility monitoring
system to ensure that every item of work is done and urged chief
leaders of the CPC and government organizations at all levels to
personally oversee the SARS control work, adding that they will
behold accountable for the overall situation in their respective
jurisdictions.
The meeting urged the mobilization of large numbers of people to
carry out monitoring work and to establish a sound monitoring
network.
It
called for close attention to SARS prevention and control in
government institutions, schools, universities, enterprises and
other large organizations.
It
urged the dissemination of scientific knowledge and SARS preventive
measures to the masses so that they could better guard against the
disease.
According to the meeting, needy SARS victims will receive financial
assistance so that they receive effective treatment in time.
The meeting explicitly warned against the covering up of SARS cases
and demanded the accurate, timely and honest reporting of the SARS
situation.
(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2003)