Artists, Scientists, Doctors Urged to Benefit Rural AreasNine central Party and government departments and two social organizations at a national meeting Monday called for more artists, scientists and medical workers to go to the countryside this winter to help the rural population.The ministries in charge of cultural development, science and technology, agriculture, public health and the China Association for Science and Technology initiated a serve-the-rural-people program in the winter of 1996. The annual event has been welcomed by millions of rural residents. During the last winter-spring period, more than 100 million books were sent to farmers, and 4.5 million live shows and 2.5 million movies were held in rural areas. More than two million scientists and technology personnel trekked to the countryside to offer training programs for 80 million farmers. More than 50,000 medical teams were also sent to rural areas last winter and spring, who helped train 2.3 million medical workers and treated 56 million patients, according to statistics. These ministries and associations called for more artists, scientists and doctors, as well as college students, to go to the western region this year, especially poverty-stricken areas. More regular channels for the urban professionals to assist these areas should be established, according to sources with the meeting. |
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