Taipei, May 3 (CNA) The people of Taiwan will weather the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) crisis through their kindness, compassion and cooperation with each other, President Chen Shui-bian said Saturday in his weekly televised broadcast.
The SARS epidemic is testing not only the country's medical system, but also the esprit de corps of its people, the president said.
The president said he is glad to see that the people of Taiwan have risen up to the SARS challenge which has brought out the best in them.
Many people have offered their services voluntarily to help SARS patients confined to Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital despite the risk to themselves, not least the country's medical workers who have demonstrated both their skill in treating the disease of unknown etiology and their great care for the patients.
Just as the island rode out the crises caused by malaria and cholera epidemics in the past with limited medical resources, Chen said, he is confident the country, with its relative more medical resources, will overcome the current difficulty.