The World Health Organization and the Chinese Ministry of Health jointly unveiled a conference in Chengdu which focuses on the devastating Wenchuan earthquake that hit south and central China on May 12, 2008.
The two-and-a-half day conference gathered global experts, including China's health minister Chen Zhu and the director-general of WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan, to discuss experiences in emergency medical rescue, coordinating health response to disasters, preventing disease outbreaks, and the long-term reconstruction of medical institutions.
Chen Zhu said at the conference that the Wenchuan earthquake was the most destructive earthquake in China in recent decades and caused the most severe damage and most widespread devastation, and gave the greatest difficulties in rescue.
Dr. Chan stressed the importance of building safe hospitals, which she said would be the theme of this year's World Health Day. Dr. Chan added that though few countries in the world are immune to natural disasters and emergencies, these risks can be mitigated by building health facilities that can withstand and function in all emergencies to protect patients and staff and provide vital health services during crises.
Apart from Wenchan earthquake, the participants also shared their experiences of medical rescue in the 2005 Pakistan Earthquake and the 1995 Osaka-Kobe Earthquake.
