The China Consumer Association (CCA) has recently been advising its members and others living in rural areas to take care during the SARS epidemic, urging them to seek help immediately upon contracting the virus. CCA reminds them that they will receive free treatment if necessary, and also advises them to continue to take serious precautions against the virus.
Rural families who have relatives working in urban areas should try their best to persuade them not to return home during the epidemic, for the sake of general interest. The preventive work, quarantine and treatment of those farmers working in cities should be carried out locally, avoiding the spread of the epidemic to rural areas. Farmers should make themselves fully aware of the requirements of public sanitation. They should wash their hands and face frequently and change and wash clothes also frequently.
Meanwhile, the CCA has specifically reminded farmers should not allow superstitious activities to disturb their normal preventive work. Farmers who have contracted SARS should go to hospital immediately. Farmers (including rural migrant workers) who have contracted SARS will not be charged for their treatment including quarantine and isolation as well as free hospitalization and free meals.
Therefore, farmer patients have no need to worry that they will not be able to afford the expense of treatment.
(China.org.cn by Wang Qian May 16, 2003)
