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Poverty-hit Liangshan needs help

By Lu Na: 0 Comments Print E-mail China.org.cn, November 12, 2010

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UNICEF Thursday hosted a press conference in Beijing to raise public's awareness of the miserable living conditions of women and children in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Many officials attended the conference, including Dr. Yin Yin Nwe, UNICEF representative to China.

Dr. Yin Yin Nwe describes the situation of women and children in Liangshan.

Famous Hong Kong stars Karen Mok and Daniel Chan, who spent time visiting Liangshan and meeting the local residents, shared their thoughts in an attempt to increase public awareness of the living conditions of women and children in Liangshan and other poverty-stricken areas of China.

Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture is a mountainous region in southwestern part of Sichuan. Most areas have retained traditional farming and poultry rearing patterns. According to official data of the Liangshan government in 2009, nearly one-third of its residents lived under the poverty line based on the annual per-capita income of China's rural poverty line standard.

The region lacks professional doctors and nurses, so many women and children's lives are threatened. In 2009, the death rates of pregnant women and mothers who have recently given birth were more than twice the national average. The death rate of children under five-year old was also higher than the national average. Hospital delivery rate was 44.4 percent, more than 50 percent lower than the national average level.

Karen Mok talks about her experiences of visiting impoverished women and children in Liangshan.

"I can't believe they live in that situation. There is no electricity, water and even no roads in some places," Karen Mok said. "The most notable thing during our visiting was the story of a father and his three kids. His wife gave birth to their third child baby at home because there was no road to send a pregnant woman to hospital. Unfortunately, his wife died after delivery. Now, he has to take care of three kids while farming. We really need to do something for these poor people."

Daniel Chan shares his thoughts about Liangshan.

"Although I have visited many poor places, this visit is the most memorable. These kids need basic health immediately. Only with our help could they have the chance to develop their potential," Daniel Chan said. "I remember a lame boy. One of his legs is broken. However, he doesn't give up and walks to school with a crutch everyday, though his house is on the hill. I think we should help to improve their living facilities and educational resource."

Dr. Yin Yin Nwe said: "UNICEF has cooperated with MOFCOM and ministry of health (MOH) providing help to local children who were infected with HIV. We will cooperate with the local government to provide medical treatment, medicine, medical facilities and training for local medical personnel, and improve the medical conditions in Liangshan."

Leonie Ki, Council Member of Hong Kong Committee for the UNICEF, hopes more people to donate to help the poor people of Liangshan.

According to Leonie Ki, a council member of Hong Kong Committee for the UNICEF, the committee founded the China Children's Health Fund in 1999 to support aid program by the Chinese government and UNICEF. "Television Broadcasts Limited (Hong Kong TVB) made a video of the visit that will be broadcast in Hong Kong. All money we receive will be donated to help poor people of Liangshan," she told the press conference.