China Launches Anti-Epidemic Campaign

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22729, 30 August 1948, Page 6

China Launches Anti-Epidemic Campaign

(From Thomas Aldeguer, Reuter’s Correspondent-)

SHANGHAI (By Air Mail)

With the backing of the National -Federation of Medical Practitioners, representing the majority of China’s 20,000 West-ern-style doctors, the Chinese Government has launched a nation-wide campaign against epidemic diseases as the first step in a major effort to lengthen the average life span of the Chinese people, which is officially placed today as 32 to 35 against 70 in some Western countries.

The campaign, at first, will be directed mainly against smallpox and cholera, the two greatest peacetime killers in China. In this connection a comprehensive programme has been drawn up calling, among other things, for mass immunisation, distribution of anti-cholera propaganda, isolation and treatment facilities, sanitary control of water, food and drinking water, and proper disposal of garbage and nightsoil.

Vaccine for Mass Innovations

The Ministry of Health's two chemical laboratories, the National Serum Vaccine Institute at Peiping and the National Institute for Biological and Chemical Production in Nanking—have been asked to produce enough vaccine for mass innoculation at all large centres. Shanghai has so far maintained an unusually clean bill of health this summer, especially in regard to cholera, although cold drinks of all fancy colours are being offered for sale by sidewalk food stalls.

Since the inauguration of the antiepidemic campaign, more than 150 gallons of liquid DDT have been sprayed over Shanghai’s gargabe heaps, public lavatories, and other unhealthy depositories. The Government anti■eoidemic campaign is a continuation of the work done by the United States China relief Mission, which terminated its operations on June 30. During the past few months the CRM—which took up all relief and reconstruction projects left uncompleted by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration — has granted funds to the Ministry of Health to. aid the fight against cholera, plague, TR and other of China's most serious epidemic diseases. Preventive Medicine At the same time it built and repaired hospitals and clinics, purchased and transported medical supplies, and increased the use of preventive medicine in the rural areas. The CRM claims that, during its brief existence, it has made partly or completely available 6500 beds in 575 Government and private hospitals throughout China for the free treatment of indigent sick. The Chinese Government’s new health drive is being conducted amid a concerted move by Chinese doctors for a "New Deal” from the nation’s press and public at large, especially ‘‘more fair and dignified treatment in the law courts.” In this connection a spokesman of the National Federation of Medical Practitioners’ legal committee pointed out that China’s doctors at present have no protection from the law. He said that doctors in China are open to libellous charges by newspapers. judgments from courts that are in no position to determine the medical merits of litigation, and disrespectful treatment from judges. He warned that if such conditions persist, Chinese doctors would eventually ber come a body of men too scared to carry out the oath of HippocratesCritical Cases Refused As a matter of fact, many Chinese doctors are today already refusing to treat critical cases brought to them. This follows court cases in which medical practitioners were charged with negligence by the immediate relatives of a patient who died while under their care. Meanwhile, the Chinese medical world has been cheered by the announcement of Dr- J. S. Peterson, chief of the World Health Organisation here that China may get the major share of 300 fellowships under a new programme being considered by the Worid Health Organisation. Dr. Peterson disclosed that the present working programme in China is divided into two parts by local arrangement, so that both Government and Communist areas may benefit by its humanitarian work, and that it will in future place emphasis on health control rather than on clinical and general research.