Press Availability in Yujian Village, Sichuan Province

SECRETARY LEAVITT:  Before I was the Secretary of Health and Human Services of the United States, I was the governor of Utah State.  It is a state in the western United States, similar to (Sichuan) also being in the west of China.  It is a state with many rural areas, and not very many large cities.  Delivering heath care in small, rural areas is always more difficult than in large cities.  One of the things I hope to speak with the Minister Gao and the Vice Minister about is ways we can learn from each other about delivering better health care in rural areas, both in China, and in the United States. 

For example, in some rural areas, doctors are able to use the internet to speak with doctors in large hospitals, and they can deliver services in rural areas using technology from the larger areas. 

I had a chance to meet today Dr. Liang, and she gave me a prescription.  I find traditional Chinese medicine very interesting, and I want to learn more about it.  China has a long and rich history.  There are lots of things we can learn from you.  Today I met a very devoted doctor who took very good care of a little girl who was sick with avian influenza.  We are all concerned about that, around the world, and we want to make sure we learn everything we can from those who have experienced it.  It’s one of the reasons that it’s so important that we share with each other.  If one country has a case that we are able to share - both information and samples of the disease  - so that we may be able to prevent it everywhere. 

QUESTION:  What is the most important reason for your visit here today, and what do you want to say to your (Chinese) colleagues here?  Also, what project would you pursue if you were China’s Minister of Health?

SECRETARY LEAVITT:  Well, I have a very friendly relationship with Minister Gao, and now also with Vice Minister Chen.  I have regular meetings with Minister Gao.  He comes to the U.S. on occasion, and now I am in China.   One of the things we know that we share is an interest in how to improve health care in rural communities in China and in the United States.  We also share a concern about avian influenza, and other potential pandemic diseases.  We have pledged to one another that we will cooperate and be transparent in our sharing of information and samples when disease occurs.

We will also be cooperating at a scientific level.  Last year, more than 500 Chinese scientists came to the United States to do scientific research, and then American  scientists came to China.  This was all to exchange -- and improve one another’s information and abilities.  Those are the things we share, and the things we will be working on together.

Mr. Minister, would you like to add something?

VICE MINISTER CHEN:  Yes, I’d like to take advantage of this opportunity to say three things.  First, since you have a village clinic, and a township hospital, you just have to tell your Village Head whatever problems or requirements you have, and ask him to address them.  Second, Dr. Liang at your village clinic has taught you a lot about your health.  Form good, healthy habits, and do what Dr. Liang has told you to do, for example, regarding how to raise chickens.  And whenever there are any symptoms,  you know what to do.  Also, get immunized regularly.  Thirdly, there will be a new rural cooperative health care system started here.  I hope that you will participate in this very actively.  If you pay ten yuan (renminbi), the government will pay forty yuan into this system, so it’s a good way for you to protect your health. 

SECRETARY LEAVITT:  Excellent - good advice. 

QUESTION:  When you were a governor, you did great work to improve your people’s health.  Now that you are Secretary of Health and Human Services of the United States, what can you do to help developing countries improve… health care in undeveloped areas, especially in the western part of China, which is very underdeveloped.  What measures can you take to help those areas in underdeveloped countries?

SECRETARY LEAVITT:  The Vice Minister gave very good advice to the people of this village, and I would give the same advice.  It’s true in western China, and true in the western united States:  if people take good care of themselves - and stay healthy - it’s a lot better than having to treat people after they get sick. 

VICE MINISTER CHEN:  You all need to take care of your health.  Pay attention to your own health. 

SECRETARY LEAVITT:  Many thanks to you all.