China deserves praise, not ill will, for efforts to curtail spread of coronavirus
By Mao
Junxiang
The
novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, Central China’s Hubei Province, has become
the focus of international attention. The World Health Organization (WHO)
declared on January 30 the epidemic public health emergency of international
concern. Over the past few days, leaders of various countries and heads of many
international organizations have shown their sympathy and support for China’s
fight against the epidemic and have generously provided aid such as much-needed
medical supplies.
However,
senior officials and media outlets of some Western countries have ignored China’s
enormous efforts to combat the epidemic and launched attacks against the
country. Their acts disregard the facts and are extremely immoral, just as a Chinese
proverb describes - dropping stones on someone who has fallen into a well.
Major
disasters are the severest test of human nature. Human rights violations
against Chinese, even Asian-looking people, such as racial discrimination and
border entry rejection, deserve the vigilance of the international community.
Infectious
diseases, which may break out in any region of any nation, are humanity’s
formidable enemy. Folke Henschen, the author of The History and Geography of Disease, once said, “human history is
also the history of diseases.” In human history, smallpox, plague, cholera,
leprosy, tuberculosis, measles, rabies, malaria, yellow fever and other
infectious diseases have all posed great threats to humans.
The
Plague of Athens (430BC-427BC) devastated the ambitious city-state of Athens.
The Antonine Plague (165AD-180AD) killed almost one-third of the Roman Empire’s
population. The Black Death that erupted in 1347 swept across Europe, resulting
in the deaths of an estimated 25-30 million people. Before it was eradicated,
smallpox plagued humanity for at least 3,000 years. In the 18th century, the
number of Europeans who died of smallpox was estimated at over 150 million. And
in the 20th century alone, smallpox took the lives of more than 300 million
people.
The
death toll of the 1918 influenza pandemic is estimated to have reached 50
million, while World War I resulted in the deaths of about 40 million. The
outbreak of Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 in Mexico and the US in March 2009
lasted for more than a year, affecting 214 countries and regions and resulting
in approximately 284,500 deaths. In 2014, the Ebola virus disease spread to
multiple countries in just a few months, killing more than 7,000 people in West
Africa. Infectious diseases have killed more people than wars and natural
disasters.
To
combat infectious diseases, humanity has continued to improve medical
technology and public sanitation, which has ensured health security and
promoted scientific and technological progress. In this sense, fighting
diseases, especially infectious diseases, is one of the driving forces in the
development of human civilization. Accounts of inoculation against smallpox in
China can be found as early as the late 10th century, and the procedure was
widely practiced by the 16th century.
At the
end of the 18th century, British doctor Edward Jenner created and promoted the
smallpox vaccine, which greatly curbed the possible outbreak of the variola
virus and reduced the death rate. In 1928, British bacteriologist Alexander
Fleming discovered penicillin, a powerful antibacterial drug, ending the era
when infectious diseases were incurable. In 1972, Chinese scientist Tu Youyou
successfully extracted artemisinin for the treatment of malaria, which has
saved millions of lives worldwide, especially in developing countries. Tu was
awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2015.
Since
the 18th century, some European countries have taken the lead in the
construction of urban sanitation facilities, improving water and sewage systems
as well as centralizing waste treatment and disinfection. All these measures
have effectively prevented infectious diseases such as the plague. In modern
times, the concerted efforts of the international community have eradicated some
once rampant infectious diseases. For example, the World Health Organization
announced in December 1979 that the world was free of variola virus.
The
ongoing epidemic of the novel coronavirus-related peneumonia is another example
of infectious diseases that has alarmed humanity. Faced with this major public
health emergency, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has been leading the
Chinese people in the war to prevent and control the spread of the epidemic.
The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core attaches great
importance to the prevention and control of the epidemic, and to the interests
of the people. It has set up a leading group responding to the pneumonia
outbreak, and established an all-around and multi-level epidemic prevention and
control system. All relevant measures are being carried out in an orderly and
effective manner.
A level
I emergency response that includes swift measures has been activated in 31
provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China. Each authority has
spared no effort to allocate medical resources in line with the policy of “collecting
patients, assembling experts, centralizing resources and focusing on treatment.”
The country has dispatched working groups to guide local authorities in terms
of improving diagnosis, treatment, emergency monitoring, epidemiologic
investigation and sampling and testing.
Thousands
of medical staff have been storming into Wuhan to help. Factory employees have
worked around the clock to produce medical supplies such as masks and
protective outfits. The authoritative information on epidemic prevention and
control has been released in a timely manner, and the interpretation of
relevant policies and measures have been strengthened.
China is
also raising the public’s awareness of the disease and people’s ability to
protect themselves from being infected. Huoshenshan Hospital and Leishenshan
Hospital were built within days. Green channels have been opened by customs
across China to ensure the speedy entry of materials for epidemic prevention
and control. Civilian charter flights have brought stranded overseas Chinese
citizens home. The Chinese government has promised to cover the medical
expenses of patients infected by the virus. Chinese people from all walks of
life are donating money and materials to fight the epidemic.
When the
outbreak was first discovered, China did its utmost to implement epidemic
prevention, control and rescue measures, maximizing the protection of people's
lives and health. China also notified the WHO and relevant countries in a
timely manner, proactively promoted international cooperation, and adopted
measures to reduce the spread of the epidemic beyond its border. The country
treated foreigners in China with kindness, demonstrating its responsibility.
China’s
determination, measures and effectiveness have been a proactive response to the
epidemic, and have been universally respected by the international community.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on January 30 praised the
Chinese government for the extraordinary measures it has taken to curb the
spread of the coronavirus, saying that “China deserves our gratitude and
respect.” He said, “We would have seen many more cases outside China by now -
and probably deaths - if it were not for the government’s efforts and the
progress they have made to protect their own people and the people of the
world.”
The WHO
has confidence in China’s ability to control the outbreak, and has not
recommended any travel or trade restriction in response to the epidemic. Many
countries, such as Germany, France, the UK, Russia, Thailand, Nepal, Tunisia,
Cambodia, North Korea, and Cuba, and international organizations, including the
European Union, the World Bank, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, have
shown their appreciation and support of China’s efforts in preventing and
controlling the novel coronavirus.
Russian
President Vladimir Putin on Feb 5 praised China’s moves to fight the virus,
saying, “The Chinese authorities are taking decisive and vigorous measures in
order to stop the epidemic.” Jiji Press, a news agency in Japan, said that
combating the virus is not a matter only for China. Silk Road Today, a media outlet in Kazakhstan, said that China’s
measures implemented to fight the virus are protecting not only China, but also
the rest of world.
However,
there are still a few countries taking unfriendly measures toward China. A
foreign media outlet even insulted the Chinese national flag on the pretext of
the pneumonia. Overreaction toward Chinese citizens has also been witnessed
abroad. Anyone in any country may be the victim of the epidemic, regardless of
race or nationality. Anyone holding a rational, objective and fair stance will
fully approve and respect the unremitting efforts made by the Chinese
government and people to combat the epidemic, and will be deeply sympathetic to
and firmly support the Chinese people.
In the
face of the severe situation, the Chinese government has always prioritized its
people’s safety and health. China understands some countries’ concerns about
the virus, but the international community should fully trust the Chinese
government’s ability to deal with emergencies. China’s efforts in preventing
and controlling the coronavirus have produced effective results. With the
continuous enrichment of local healthcare resources and optimization of medical
plans, the number of newly cured patients being discharged from hospitals has
been rising every day. Chinese people are united in this fight to end the
epidemic, and are sparing no effort to save lives. China will eventually win
the battle against the disease, just as it defeated SARS 17 years ago.
The author is executive director
and professor at the Human Rights Studies Center, Central South University.
Source:People’s
Daily/Global Times
On February 6, 2020, for the
supply of markets, farmers are busy picking vegetables in the greenhouse of Fengtian
Agricultural Fruit Plantation Plant in Heshi Town, Luojiang District, Quanzhou.
(Photo by Lin Sheng / People’s Daily Online)
China deserves praise, not ill will, for efforts to curtail spread of coronavirus
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