Chinese Vice-Premier Calls for Better Healthcare for Women, Children

Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong (C) attends a symposium marking the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the Law on Maternal and Infant Health Care, in Beijing on June 2. [Xinhua]

Authorities across the country should make unremitting efforts to improve the health of women and children, said Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong at a symposium held in Beijing on June 2.

The symposium was held to mark the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the Law on Maternal and Infant Health Care.

Liu pointed out that over the past two decades, the healthcare system for women and children has improved considerably, and women and children enjoy significantly better health. She added that China has met key Millennium Development Goals ahead of target, which is a historic achievement for the country.

Liu stressed that China has 880 million women and children, whose health is the premise and basis of sustainable development. Their health is directly linked to families' happiness and the nation's future. She asked authorities across the country to enhance their sense of responsibility and mission and stick to the guidelines on women and children's health work, for the improvement of everybody.

Liu asked authorities across the country to put women and children's security as the top priority, raise women's delivery successful rates at hospitals, strengthen efforts to prevent and treat birth defects, enhance pre-marital and pre-pregnancy checks and crack down on surrogacy.

Liu also urged authorities across the country to promote cervical and breast cancer screenings among women, enhance the treatment of children who get serious diseases, and solve prominent problems affecting women and children's health. In addition, they should actively meet the needs of the public, improve the women and children's health service system, and provide better services to migrant women and children, teenagers, and children in poverty-stricken areas.

(Source: Xinhua/Translated and edited by Women of China)