April 28th, 2003

China's Problem with the SARS Outbreak

 
The whole world is increasingly concerned about the SARS epidemic in China that
continues to sweep into many countries of the world. This is an urgent prayer request for protection of church leadership people, tentmakers and others who cannot leave or are unwilling to leave the country at this time. Pray for China's leadership at this time and for a stop of the epidemic in China as well as other countries. The SARS epidemic has turned into a nightmare for the Chinese government. At first, the government attempted to cover-up and downplay the epidemic, but the dramatic increase of new cases has revealed the severe turmoil of Chin's health care system. The Washington Post reports that the country's socialist health care system has collapsed, and in its place has emerged a ruthless medical system that benefits the rich and generally hurts the poor. The World Health Organization has warned that China may not be able to deal with the SARS epidemic and is advising all travelers to avoid Beijing, Hong Kong and Toronto where many Chinese reside. Another problem is whatYang Fan, a Chinese economist, said. He believes "medical  morality" has declined sharply throughout the country, and although the government claims SARS treatment is free, the people are experiencing the demand of doctors for payment before treatment. Yang Fan reports. There are more and more cases of physicians refusing to save lives if they don't first get a deposit. Treatment is also complicated by the fact of the massive misuse of antibiotics across the country, which has weakened the immune systems of many people. Antibiotics are available over the counter in most pharmacies in major cities which has resulted in a serious incidence of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in China that is considered one of the highest in the world, says the WHO. The Far Eastern Economic Review reports that China's new leaders are struggling to counter a growing political crisis over the official handling of the SARS outbreak. Thus far, because of a ten-fold increase of cases, Beijing Mayor Meng Xuenong has became the highest profile official sacked in the crisis. However, many wonder why the mayor has been sacked and not the city's more powerful and more visible Communist Party Secretary Liu Qi “ a member of the party's 24-strong Politburo.