By Ma Yujia

On the evening of October 28, the All-China Women's Federation held a press conference and eight women deputies to the Tenth National Women's Congress answered questions from the media. Wang Jin, president of the Women's Federation of Chengdu City, was the center of attention.

On the evening of October 28, the All-China Women's Federation held a press conference and ten women deputies to the Tenth National Women's Congress answered questions from the media. From left to right: Xia Yinlan; Lu Ye; Che Jing; Wang Jin; Liu Wenli; Qin He; Huang Chunyan; Yang Meng.[China.org.cn]

Wang Jin first expressed sincere gratitude to the whole country, the international community, and all the media, on behalf of the people in quake-stricken areas in Sichuan. She said that after "5.12", central government had called for the whole country to unite and fight against this catastrophic earthquake. They will never forget the support showered on them from all over the world.

It was reported that in the process of combating the earthquake the Women's Federation of Chengdu City, under the leadership of Wang Jin, took a variety of steps to help people in quake-hit areas, such as the establishment of special teams in the disaster areas to organize timely distribution of relief materials, the recruitment of volunteers, and the set-up of information hotlines. The Women's Federation played an important role in easing the pain of the earthquake. However, Wang told the conference, there remain many problems still requiring the attention of the organization.

According to Wang, the Women's Federation gave particular attention to the needs of women and children. Following the earthquake women and children had been badly traumatized, but in the stresses of the immediate aftermath they were not fully aware of the deeper trauma they had suffered. Six months later, as normalcy returns to their lives, their mental aches and pains become more apparent. It is at this point that the fight against their psychological trauma becomes an urgent problem.

To provide psychological support to women and children in affected areas, on the one hand the Women's Federation continues to cooperate with South China Normal University and Sichuan Normal University, setting up long-term special work groups for experts to treat women and children with psychotherapy. On the other hand, grass-roots women's federations have been established in towns and villages, especially in temporary home communities, to provide care to those families stricken by the earthquake.

Wang noted that providing psychological support is demanding work, and expressed the hope that the whole nation would give priority to this effort. Only by persisting with the task could women and children in quake-hit areas return to a happy and healthy life.

Wang Jin, president of the Women's Federation of Chengdu City, answers questions from the media at a press conference on October 28.[China.org.cn]

(China.org.cn October 30, 2008)