Sichuan women are expected to continue benefiting from the successful "Delivering Health to Communities and Rural Families" project launched last July by the local government's Working Committee on Children and Women.
　　Focusing on local women, the project covers a series of activities that teach the target group about health care.
　　The project was laid out in accordance with the Programme for the Development of Chinese Women (2001-2010) and the National Programme of Action for Child Development in China (2001-2010), which were formulated by the Chinese Government.
　　Planned to last three and a half years, it has already established a high reputation among Sichuan women.
　　The Sichuan Working Committee on Children and Women issued a detailed notice on the project before hand to lower level organizations.
　　It has also organized a panel of medical specialists in every community to supervise the related work.
　　Some other activities, such as health care consultations, free lectures and website construction are also a part of the project.
　　Most of the sub-committees on children and women, especially those in the cities of Suinmg, Nanchong and Me;sham have set up related leadership groups and drawn up specific plans according to their own situations.
　　They have held meetings and allocated special funds and stafffor the implementation of the project.
　　The Suining government has designed activities to support the project and encourage ever)' household to create a heahhy environment and lead a healthy life both physically and psychologically.
　　It has also inspired competition among counties, hospitals, communities and even families for health care pioneering activities.
　　The local government of Muchuan county has asked all of its related departments and the local women's association to provide active medical t realment and prevention for women and children.
　　Likewise, Maoxian county places more emphasis on improving the health of local minority women and raise their awareness about health care.
　　"Without the project, I would never be a real woman again. So I sincerely thank those specialists who rushed to save me at that time." said Xu Ying. a new mother in Meishan city who had a traumatic childbirth in which she lost large amounts of blood.
　　The traditional method of treatment usually consists of removing the uterus. However, that technique usually results in deformation of feminine physiological features.
　　Fortunately, Xu's sister objected to this method since she had attended a lecture given by Professor Tang Yichuan who talked about a method that could both stop bleeding and keep the uterus intact.
　　The lecture was part of the Nanthong government's endeavours to carry out the "Delivering Health to Communities and Rural Families" project.
　　Thanks to the joint efforts of Professor Tang and other physicians in Meishan, Xu lived through this difficult experience.
　　Similar lectures given by health care experts are the highlight of the project and are most welcomed by local people.
　　So far, it is estimated that a total of more than 20,000 people have attended the lectures held in 45 counties and cities in Sichuan.
　　A patient who suffered fromuterus and breast cancer even asked her relative to carry her to a lecture in ya'an city for a special consultation.
　　The lecturers not only speak at the sessions, they also visit local health care institutes, hospitals or other related organizations to check the facilities and help solve problems practically.
　　The 43-round lecture on the development of radiation treatment in the field of gynaecology and obstetrics has attracted nearly 2,000 physicians and specialists, helping update the local medical staff's knowledge and skills.
　　"I had seen many women in pain when their uteruses were cut off during my decades of practice, therefore I was looking forward to the emergence of a new technique.Thanks to the lecture, I can apply the new skill to ease my patients' pain finally," said a gynaecologist in Jiang'an county after attending the lecture.
　　Besides the informative lectures. the Sichuan government has also provided free treatment that has drawn in more than 50,000 people.
　　Ten thousand questionnaires on the status of women's health have been handed out, along with more than 30,000 copies of Jiating Yisheng (Private Doctor) magazine.
　　The Chengdu Enwei Company and Chengdu Jinjiang Hospital for Gynaecology and Obstetrics have been playing an indispensable role in this project.
　　The two have sent a group of specialists and staff members to 13 cities and 43 counties in Sichuan to give lectures and deliver free medicine to local women.
　　The Chengdu Enwei Company has allocated a special fund of more than 300,000 yuan (US$36,000) to support the activity.
　　In addition to opening free health files for more than 600 families with low income, the company also handed out medicine valued at over 8,000 yuan (US$970) and promised to send more in the future.
　　Chengdu Jinjiang Hospital for Gynaecology and Obstetrics has equipped some working committees for children and women with 43 fax machines while offering free treatment for local women.
　　The project is expected to expand in the future and provide more activities and services.
( By Fu You)

CHINA DAILY 2004.1.30