PLA Daily 2003-05-16

　　When the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) broke out in China, the medical personnel have shown lofty professional morality. Risking being infected, numerous doctors and nurses bravely stood at the front lines to fight against the deadly disease.

　　Medical professor Jiang Suchun is an extraordinary example. He tried to find a cure for SARS by self-experimentation after being infected with the disease. Jiang's courageous sprit and high morality in combating SARS were commended by State President Hu Jintao.

　　When taking part in the SARS patients' diagnosis, treatment and autopsies, Jiang actually had retired from the Army's No. 302 Hospital. However, he refused to do his job behind the scenes. After being infected, the professor, who is in his 70s, chose to undergo what he would like to prove effective - injecting the serum of recovered patients into his own blood vessel.

　　"I am old, and it's an uncommon opportunity for me to join the fight against SARS," Jiang said, "I hope I could explore a new treatment."

　　Meanwhile, Jiang never stopped working, even in his ward. He completed nine essays on SARS when he stayed in the sickbed. One article entitled "SARS could be cured and prevented" had drawn wide attention from the society where the fear of SARS initially prevailed.

　　Apart from Jiang, many other medical staff also have made great sacrifices in attempt to combat SARS. Ye Xin, Deng Liangxian and Fan Xin, to name a few, have devoted their precious lives to the fight. They are worthy to receive our respect forever.

　　Thousands of years of human history have witnessed countless battles between humankind and deadly diseases. Every victory was the result of the tireless work of scientists and medical staff. Today, in face of SARS, numerous scientific and medical staff are, once again, devoting themselves to the challenge to defend the human being. Their spirit of devotion is a magic weapon to overcome whatever difficulties.

　　Although SARS has yet to be completely understood, it is believed that it can be cured finally through the unremitting efforts by those brave fighters who have unselfishly devoted themselves to the noble mission. History shows that all obstacles can be conquered by our dedication and the spirit of devotion, which are the traditional virtue of the nation. This time, depending on the valuable spirit of devotion, we shall assuredly succeed in the fighting against SARS. Moreover, the great spirit showed in this fight will help our country push forward the progress of opening up and reforming, thus realize the great goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way.

　　By Zhao Huanan

　　(May 16, PLA Daily)