WHO Initiates Setting up Surveillance, Response System against SARS

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, May 23, 2003

WHO Initiates Setting up Surveillance, Response System against SARS

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The World Health Organization (WHO) proposed on Thursday establishing a worldwide system of disease surveillance and response to fight rampant SARS, including building epidemiology and public health laboratory facilities in China and the surrounding regions.

"Despite the rapid and effective response from partners around the world, SARS exposes fundamental weaknesses in global health infrastructure," Dr. Jong-Wook Lee, newly elected director-generalof the WHO, said at a WHO forum held in Geneva.

This flu-like infectious epidemic highlights the need for localand national surveillance and response mechanisms, he added.

Recognizing both the social and economic impacts of SARS, the international business community has pledged support for mobilizing the initial resources needed to carry out this work through a special fund.

The World Economic Forum's Global Health Initiative and the WHOwill work together to assemble a coalition of business leaders andcommitted individuals, who will in turn design the fund and mobilize the resources to fill it, according to a WHO press release.

The WHO said the initial target is to raise 100 million US dollars by September from the business community, especially from companies with operations or markets in Asia.

The WHO will also be working to quickly raise an additional 100million dollars from bilateral donors to support expanded surveillance and response across the globe.

These funds are just the first step in an ongoing global commitment against the infectious disease threat, said the WHO.

As a result of discussion with Wu Yi, vice premier and ministerof health of China, the WHO will intensify collaboration with China. China has also asked the WHO to coordinate bilateral programs that may complement these activities.

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