--亚洲开发银行采取一系列措施帮助发展中的会员国家对抗SARS
1. ADB建立了多学科工作组来评估SARS对亚洲区域的影响,积极促成会员国与世界卫生组织等双边组织的合作。
2. ADB研究了SARS对区域经济,尤其是疫情严重地区的影响，也研究了对ADB自身运作
的影响。
3.基于以上研究, ADB建立了一套行动计划,以协助会员国对付SARS
Honorable General Secretary of the Boao Forum, Mr. Long Yongtu; distinguished participants; ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.
I welcome the initiative to convene this special forum on the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) on a very short notice. SARS has infected more than 6,500 people worldwide, and is a source of growing concern.
The outbreak of SARS has caused pervasive impacts across many sectors, but this disease has become much more than a health issue. While morbidity and mortality from SARS have been relatively low, SARS is causing significant economic disruption due to a lack of information about its nature and cause, as well as the absence of effective diagnosis and treatment. Consequently, there is heightened uncertainty in the region. SARS has already caused an immediate reduction in private consumption, especially for services. The weakening of consumer demand may intensify the deflationary pressure in some economies. In addition, unemployment rates may rise, and reduced economic activity may reduce government revenues and negatively affect fiscal positions.
Even if we all hope that the impact of SARS will be short-term, focused efforts are needed to ensure that the adverse impacts are minimized. Therefore, I consider SARS to be an important and urgent development issue, and would like to share with you some of the initiatives that ADB has taken to assist ADB's member countries to confront this epidemic.
First, ADB has set up a multidisciplinary task force to assess the impact of SARS in the region. The task force has developed options for helping ADB's developing member countries, through grants and concessional loans, to cope with SARS, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as other international and bilateral organizations. I have written to Governors of SARS-affected economies to convey ADB's concern, to indicate ADB's support for their initiatives to contain the spread of SARS, and to advise them of ADB's task force.
Second, ADB has been studying the impact of SARS on the region's economies, and on ADB's own operations. A particular focus is on the economic, social and psychological impacts in countries most affected by the disease. SARS isshavingsan impact on many economic sectors, including tourism, transportation (particularly airlines), retail, health and education. Although the impacts cut across entire societies, the poor are particularly vulnerable.
Third, based on our preliminary analysis of actual and potential impacts, ADB has prepared an Action Plan with a set of potential responses to assist our developing member countries to prevent and mitigate the consequences of SARS, including regional and country-specific options.
As a part of this Action Plan, ADB will take the following proactive steps to minimize further adverse impacts:
One, ADB will examine the preparedness of its developing member countries in addressing SARS-related issues, and initiate discussions with SARS-affected developing member countries to identify any need to put in place emergency procedures to control the spread of SARS. In this connection, ADB will consult with the affected developing member countries on the possibility of reallocating loan proceeds from existing projects for such emergency actions.
Two, staff will work with their counterparts at WHO to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate on-going and future work with WHO to control the spread of SARS and, possibly, other emerging infections as well.
Three, ADB is considering providing grant-funded technical assistance that will be country-specific, as well as regional technical assistance. The technical assistance will be available to key developing member country partners such as Ministries of Health, local health authorities, NGOs, and regional organizations. This support will cover areas such as public health surveillance, training and institutional capacity building, information and education campaigns, and emergency provisions of public health material and supplies.
In conclusion, ADB is taking the SARS outbreak very seriously, and adopting measures to meet the needs of our developing member countries for assistance.
Insgroupsto minimize the adverse impacts of SARS, cooperation among governments, the private sector and international organizations is essential. This forum provides us with an excellent opportunity to share the diverse views and experiences of some SARS-affected countries and regions. As a result, I hope, this forum will yield fruitful discussions, and result in constructive policy recommendations and actions.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the Boao Forum for Asia for proposing this timely and important conference.
Thank you for your participation.
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