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News From the Front Line
September 2009 - School Construction. As a part of the China Foundation's continuous program to improve the quality of life in needy areas of China, a large and beautiful school for 3,400 students is being constructed in Hexian, Anhuei Province. This school is donated by Mr. & Mrs. Dehai Tao in memory of his Father and family in his hometown - Hexian, Anhuei Province, China. Without his generous contribution, this project will not be possible to be completed. On behalf of the children and people in Hexian, Anhuei Province, Dr. Jane H. Hu, Chairman of the China Foundation, expressed her gratitude to the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Dehai Tao and the voluntering efforts of the China Foundation Officers, especially Dr. Bing Yao, Mr. Xiaolin Shi, Dr. Betty Niu and Mr. Jing Chen. It is the joint effort of the contributors and volunteers that makes this long-lasting meaningful project successful.
December 2007 - Mr. Dehai Tao made a contribution to build schools in his hometown, Hexian County in Anhui Province. A large school for 3,400 students will be built, the school construction will have 2,400 square meters for all purpose educational activities. The China foundation's Representative, Xiaolin Shi oversees the projects to build the donated schools in Anhui Province.
Urgent Earthquake Relief. On May 12, 2008, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake devastated Eastern Sichuan, China, and shocked half of Asia. By June the confirmed death toll was over 80 thousand, including many school children killed by collapsed school buildings. Another 18 thousand people were still missing, many of them presumed buried under the rubble. Millions of people became homeless. The earthquake and aftershocks caused many landslides and formed huge "quake lakes" behind unstable landslides. Millions of survivors have to be evacuated from flood-threatened downstream areas.
Dr. Hu expressed her sincere sympathy and concerns for the earthquake victims and collapsed schools that caused the death of more than 9,000 children. To provide urgent relief to earthquake devastated families and areas, the China Foundation has committed to donate one ambulance badly needed in the disaster area, to rebuild schools destroyed in the earthquake, to provide medical supplies and services to save lives and relieve human sufferings, and to rebuild a Township Health Centers in Disaster Areas. The China Foundation has built 123 Health Centers in the past few years and will build one Health Center to provide medical care in Disaster areas. The China Foundation will work with China's Ministry of Health and will activate World Bank funds with our donation.
Your kindly donation is deeply appreciated and will be ear-marked for the Earthquake Relief Fund only. Please send your check to to:
China Foundation, Earthquake Relief Fund
The China Foundation Washington DC Office
Mark Solomons, JD, LLM
2101 L Street, NW
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: (202) 533-2361
November 2008 - The Annual Meeting of the China Foundation was held at its Washington, DC Office. Mark Solomons, Esq., Vice President for Health Insurance of the China Foundation reported the status of China Foundation's application for federal registration of the trademark "China Foundation" at USPTO. USPTO has examined the registration. A required "publication for opposition" period has been completed with no opposition. It is very likely that registration will be granted. The Board reviewed financial statements. Dr. Hu reported the progress made on the Education and Health Programs and future plans.
November 2007 - The Annual Meeting of the China Foundation was held at its Washington, DC Office. Mark Solomons, Esq., Vice President for Health Insurance of the China Foundation organized the 2007 Annual Meeting in the Washington DC Office Conference Room. Dr. Bing Yao made an impressive presentation on the Education Program of the China Foundation. Dr. Hu reported the progress made on the Health Program of the China Foundation and future plans.
July 2007 - Visiting Scholar in Beijing. China Foundation's Chairman, Dr. Jane Hu was invited to serve as a Senior Visiting Scholar at the Guanghua School of Management of Peking University. She attended various activities as China's National Board Member for HIV/AIDS Control. Living in Beijing gave Dr. Hu a chance to observe daily life in China. She observed that the most urgent and serious problem of Chinese people is inadequate medical care of high quality and affordable health services. Most rural and urban poor people do not have health insurance to pay for needed healthcare.
June 1, 2007 - The first school for children with HIV/AIDS in China helds its Opening Ceremony and fund raising event on the International Children's Day. More than 500 people including the local and central government officials, artists, movie stars, reporters, TV stations and interested domestic and international representatives participated in this significant event. The new school's building was contributed by the China Foundation. China Foundation's Mrs. Lien Yao and her family members contributed construction money for this school, which is named after Mrs. Yao's Father. Responded to the China Foundation's request, the Alumni Association of Taipei First Girls' School, Class '58, contributed money to add the construction of a Library and a Music and Arts Activity Room. Dr. Guo Xiaoping, Director of the Infectious Disease Hospital of LinFen County, Shanxi Province, started this school as a classroom for HIV/AIDS children. With the support from the China Foundation and other organizations, the initial classroom has been turned into this boarding school for children with HIV/AIDS.
 School at Linfen County, Shanxi Province, Classroom.
(Photographs)
December 3, 2006 - China Foundation's Annual Board Meeting was held in Maryland, USA. Dr. Jane Hu and Dr. Bing Yao reported on the Foundation's annual activities and the progress on the Education Program. A fund raising committee was formed to expand the Foundation's fund raising effort. (Report: The China Foundation 2006 Annual Report.)
September 14, 2006 - Forum on HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention in Beijing. The Beijing Forum on HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention was a very
successful Policy Forum. It was probably the first International Forum organized by domestic
Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and the China Foundation and supported by the Chinese Government. The
leaders of all Governmental Agencies related to HIV/AIDS control participated in this Forum with UN groups, US
agencies, domestic and international NGOs and Foundations, AIDS experts
discussed the emerging problems in AIDS treatment, drugs and prevention to find solutions and improvements.
Joseph Chen, CEO and President of the China Foundation, took the
initiative to raise funds and help organize the Beijing Forum in 2006. He
Co-Chaired the Beijing Forum on HIV/AIDS. He is also invited to organize the International AIDS onference to be held in
Taipei in 2007 and he will also help organize the Beijing Forum in
2007. Vice Minister Wang Longde who is in charge of HIV/AIDS control in
China invited Dr. Jane Hu, Chairman of the China Foundation for a lunch
after the Forum to discuss about AIDS drugs to show his friendship and support.
September 15, 2006 - Peking University Seminar. Dr. Jane Hu was invited to give a Seminar on the Challenges of HIV/AIDS
in
the 21st Century Healthcare at Peking University. Before the Seminar,
Dr.
Weiying Zhang, Dean of Guanhua
School of Management and Professor Gordon Liu, Chairman, Department of
Health Economics
and Management hosted a banquet for Dr. Hu and her friends at Peking
University. The Seminar was well attended by students, faculty members
and
corporate leaders. The audience asked interesting questions and these
students and corporate managers will be leaders of China in the future.
September 16, 2006 -
The Center of Excellence, LinFen County, Shanxi Province.
The Officers of the China Foundation and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, along with
Dr. Monica Sweeney, Former Member of US Presidential Advisory Council
on HIV/AIDS, visited the Center of Excellence in the Infectious Disease
Hospital of LinFen County, Shanxi Province. The Center of Excellent is a joint
project of the China Foundation and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation
(AHF) for AIDS treatment and training. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the
world's largest AIDS treatment organization. They are treating huge numbers of
AIDS patients in the United States, Africa and India. The Center of
Excellence in LinFen is our first model AIDS Clinic in China. We plan to establish
another Center of Excellence in Guanxi or Yunnan Province in 2007 to treat AIDS
patients in these provinces with serious HIV/AIDS epidemic. The rich
experiences and expertise of AHF will ensure the success of this joint
project in China. The China Foundation works with AHF to establish
clinics in China and coordinates with Chinese Government officials at the
Ministry of Health and China CDC. The Clinton Foundation has promised to
provide AIDS drugs for 100 to 200 children with AIDS to the Center of
Excellence. The Center has done marvelous work to control the HIV infections of
children and adults in Shanxi Province where past blood-selling of villagers
caused severe HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Septembetr 16, 2006 -
The Green Harbor - Inpatient Unit of the Center of Excellence.
The Inpatient Unit of the Center of Excellence is located at the Green
Harbor, a peaceful clinic surrounded by green vegatables, trees and
blooming roses planted by the AIDS patients and their
families. The HIV-infected children came here dying. But after careful treatment at
the Center of Excellence, their HIV infection is well-controlled and those
children look healthy and full of life.
Dr. Guo Xiaoping, Director of the Infectious Hospital is a kind-hearted
doctor concerned about the future of those children, he hired a teacher
to start teaching those children in a temporary classroom. The China
Foundation has decided to build a Primary School (Elementary School and
Junior High School) in LinFen county for those AIDS children. This will
be the first formal school for AIDS children in China. The construction of
the school will start in February 2007 to be completed in September 2007.
September 17, 2006 - Opening Ceremony of Sun-puo Boarding School in Wenxi County, Shanxi
Province
The China Foundation Officers and Dr. Monica Sweeney, Former Member of US Presidential Advisor on
HIV/AIDS, and her husband, Joseph attended the Opening Ceremony of the Sun-puo
Boarding School in Wenxi County, Shanxi Province. The HIV/AIDS
epidemic was most severe in Wenxi County where most poor villagers sold blood
to improve their living, many AIDS patients already died and left their
children behind as AIDS orphans. This Boarding School with Dormitory
admits orphans, AIDS orphans and village children. American Sun Yat-Sen Charitable Trust (Dr. Alice Tang) contributed significant fund to enable the construction of this lovely facility. The Shaxi
Provincial Government and local Government are responsible for hiring teachers,
workers and living expenses of orphans including AIDS orphans. It is
an ideal situation that AIDs orphans can go to school with other orphans
and village children. The Opening Ceremony was well-prepared and
celebrated by the whole county, adults and children were smiling and cheering in the
sun. It was indeed wonderful to see all children attending this school
without discrimination and stigma attached.
There were almost 200 orphans living in the Dormitory as their Home.
Opening Ceremony of Sun-puo Boarding School in Wenxi County, Shanxi Province. American Sun Yat-Sen Charitable Trust (Dr. Alice Tang) contributed significantly to its funding.
In September of 2006, Dr. Hu participated in a historical Roundtable
Meeting in Beijing, China. This meeting brought together all majoy players in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in China, including the Chinese Government leaders responsible for HIV/AIDS
control, the UN organizations (WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS, etc.), the US agencies
(USCDC, NIH, USAID, etc.), the International and Chinese organizations and
Foundations. Major Foundations, such as the Ford Foundation and the Clinton Foundation, participated in the meeting. The China Foundation initiated the Roundtable meeting idea and supported most of the expenses
to organize this meeting in Beijing. This meeting discussed emerging problems in AIDS
treatment and prevention in China and how to solve the problems. It
will have a positive impact on the future of China and Chinese people,
especially the AIDS patients in China.
In September of 2006, a Boarding School (Elementary School and Junior High School), including classrooms, dormitory, dining hall, kitchen, and other facilities, will open for the school year. This school will accommodate 600 village students, including 125 AIDS orphans from Wenxi County, Shanxi Province. This school was donated by the China Foundation. Dr. Hu was invited with China Foundation's CEO & President to attend the Opening Ceremony on September 17. This new school will bring sunshine and hope to hundreds of children, especially the AIDS orphans for a brighter future.
In the Summer of 2006, hundreds of students and teachers in a deprived region of Qinghai Province will rejoice and celebrate the opening of an elementary school constructed by the China Foundation. As part of the incessant efforts to aid the educational needs in the deprived regions in China, The Foundation will complete construction of this elementary school with a capacity to educate hundreds of students. Foundation Chair Dr. Hu commented that, "The Foundation is appreciative of Foundation Vice President Dr. and Mrs. Yao's charitable gift to make this task a possibility."
On December 1, 2005, World AIDS Day, The White House held a ceremony commemorating this day. Dr. Hu was invited by President George W. Bush to attend the White House ceremony for the World AIDS Day. VIP Attendees included The First lady, Laura Bush, Secretary of the State, Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield and many Senators and Congressmen and foreign dignitaries. In his speech, President Bush talked about measures being taken domestically and globally to fight HIV/AIDS. He expressed his appreciation and determination to stand with the "global partners" in fighting this disease. As a guest of the President, Dr. Hu attended the ceremony. Later Dr. Hu stated that, "The China Foundation definitely is part of the "global partners" in this fight against HIV/AIDS. In this World AIDS Day, we strongly support President Bush's policy to fight HIV/AIDS globally and domestically and we heartedly appreciate his and The First Lady’s compassionate efforts."
"The World AIDS Day is significant because it reminds us this is a war that the world has yet to won," CEO/President of Foundation Joseph Chen said. "America has about Forty Thousand new cases annually. The government provides more than $17 billion annually for the domestic programs. The effectiveness is evident as it has even changes the face of this illness. American HIV/AIDS specialists have increasingly witnessed HIV/AIDS becoming more of a protracted state as the management and control improved." He said.
In the night of December 1, 2005, the White House marked World AIDS Day by dimming the North Portico lights. The White House encouraged States, communities, and the people of the United States to join in commemorating World AIDS Day by dimming their lights or participating in other appropriate activities. The Foundation leaders in California and Texas called upon the people in the community to dim the light in their homes as a symbolic gesture to support the victims living with HIV/AIDS. Many responded.
In the Mid-2005, the Foundation took the policy initiative to exam the issue of Sex Trafficking and HIV/AIDS. The study is headed by CEO/President Chen. After the study was completed, President Chen commented that, "The result of the study underscores the importance to address the issue of Sex Trafficking and HIV/AIDS on the national policy level." On November 14, 2005, based on the China Foundation's study result and the research data from other Presidential Advisory Council Members, the Foundation Chair Dr. Hu officially presented a resolution to the Presidential Advisory Council On HIV/AIDS. The resolution on Sex Trafficking was adopted by the Council and this policy recommendation was sent to the White House, the United States Congress, the Department of the State and the Department of Health and Human Services.
On November 1, 2005, President Bush delivers his speech regarding the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response. He said, "Our strategy is designed to meet three critical goals: First, we must detect outbreaks that occur anywhere in the world; second, we must protect the American people by stockpiling vaccines and antiviral drugs, and improve our ability to rapidly produce new vaccines against a pandemic strain; and, third, we must be ready to respond at the federal, state and local levels in the event that a pandemic reaches our shores," President Bush talked about the distinctiveness of the Avian and Pandemic Influenza threat and the Nation's strategy to spot outbreaks, increase domestic vaccine manufacture capacity, stockpile treatments, and plan to react to a pandemic. China Foundation Chair Dr. Hu expressed her support of President’s policy and commented that “The history should teach all of us a lesson to pay attention to the danger of pandemics. In the 20th century, the world has witnessed influenza pandemics. In 1918 pandemic, about 500,000 Americans and more than 20 million people died of influenza. The 1957 and 1968 pandemics killed more than tens of thousands of Americans and millions worldwide. We all still vividly remember the nightmare of the outbreak of SARS when the world was totally unprepared and that experience should give us enough warning of what might happen if we are again caught prepared.”
In the Summer of 2005, hundreds of joyous families in a deprived region of Inner Mongolia attended the opening of an elementary school constructed by the China Foundation. As part of the continuous efforts, The Foundation constructed this elementary school in Inner Mongolia with a capacity to educate hundreds of students. On behalf of the China Foundation, Vice President Dr. Bing Yao and his wife attended the Opening Ceremony of this school in Inner Mongolia that was held in summer of 2005. Foundation Chair Dr. Hu commented that, “The Foundation is appreciative of Dr. and Mrs. Yao's generous contribution of fund, time, and energy to help the educational needs of these disadvantaged children”
June 27, 2005 is the National HIV Testing Day. Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt stated that, “Today marks the 11th annual observance of National HIV Testing Day, which reminds all Americans that HIV testing is an important step in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. An estimated 40,000 Americans are newly infected with HIV each year.” He said, “New CDC data indicates that in 2003, between 1,039,000 and 1,185,000 people were living with HIV.” Foundation President Joseph Chen commented that, "The China Foundation strongly supports Secretary Leavitt’s policy and will do our best to help raise public awareness of this significant crisis.” He said, “25% of American HIV patients not only are ignorant about their illness but also are actively spreading the disease in a deadly rate simply because they are not aware of they are HIV positive. The danger of spreading of HIV/AIDS in the United States is grave. We need to actively educate and encourage people in high risk to go to have the test done."
Press Conferences to Launch a Joint HIV/AIDS Project
In September 2004, Dr. Hu signed an official Memorandum of
Cooperation with the Foreign Loan Office of China's Ministry of Health
(representing the World Bank and China's Ministry of Health), Shanxi Provincial
Health Bureau and Yuncheng City Health Bureau and China's Center for Disease
Control (CDC). The Memorandum was to set up the HIV testing, AIDS treatment
and training project in Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province where serious HIV/AIDS
epidemic was caused by blood selling of poor villagers. The China Foundation
will hold a Press Conference at the US Senate on November 30, 2004 to launch
the joint HIV/AIDS project. A Press Conference and Opening Ceremony will
also be held in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province simultaneous on December
1 (International AIDS Day), 2004 hosted by Shanxi Provincial Health Bureau.
Plan to Establish an International
Center for Human Development
In 2004, the China Foundation has successfully initiated
a plan to establish an International Center for Human Development in Beijing.
This Center will be the product of the partnership among the China Foundation,
the Ministry of Health of China, the U. S. Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, UNICEF/China, Tsinghua University, Harvard School of Public
Health and other leading Chinese and US institutes and universities. This
Center will conduct policy studies, develop trainings, and provide strategic
advice to the Chinese government in various areas, especially in health
care and education to relieve poverty of remote rural areas and urban migrant
populations.
Panelist at the SID Forum on
SARS
In July, 2003, Dr. Jane Hu of China Foundation was invited
by the Society of International Development (SID), an international organization
with offices in all major cities in the world, to participate as a panelist
for their International Forum on SARS. Dr. Nelle Temple Brown, Washington,
DC Representative of WHO and Patricia Moser, Representative of the Asian
Development Bank are the other two panelists. Dr. Hu talked about "the
Health Care System and Economic Impact of SARS in China", Dr. Brown
introduced "the Functions of WHO in the Control of SARS", Patricia
Moser presented "the Economic Impact of SARS in Asia". The Panel
Discussion afterward was enthusiastic and informative.
Initiative on Community Care
Network
In May 2003, in partnership with Asian American Fund, Chinese
American Association, and other community organizations in New York, Texas,
California, and other states, the Chair Dr. Hu and the Executive Director
of the Foundation took an initiative to formulate the "Initiative
on Community Care" with a mission to enhance the quality of the community
health education and information.
National Health Education and
Prevention Initiative
There are nearly 12 million citizens and residents of Asian
Pacific America ancestry in the United States. In May, 2003, in partnership
with Asian American Christian Alliance, Agape Bone Barrow Foundation and
Asian Christian Coalition, and other national and local community organizations,
the China Foundation took an initiative to form "National Health Education
and Prevention Initiative on HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, and Other Diseases",
particularly targeted Asian American community in America. Expected to
be initiated by the end of the 2003, this is the first such immense undertaking
in the history of Asian American community. On the HIV/AIDS prevention,
the approach is partially based on a Foundation's study about a story of
Uganda who has been implementing an effective strategy of prevention, emphasizing
abstinence and marital fidelity, as well as the responsible use of condoms
to prevent HIV transmission.
Initiatives to Combat Global
AIDS Epidemic
In January, 2003, President George W. Bush officially appointed
Dr. Jane Hu, the Foundation Chair, to be Presidential Advisory Council
Member on HIV/AIDS. In January, 2003 Dr. Jane Hu in partnership with her
colleagues in the Presidential Advisory Council Member on HIV/AIDS, sent
a policy recommendation to President George W. Bush regarding providing
financial and technical assistance to combat AIDS epidemic in China, as
well as other deprived areas such as Africa. In May, 2003, President George
W. Bush announced that, due to an enthusiastic response from the Congress,
he intend to sign into law to offer the US contribution of 15 billions
to combat AIDS worldwide. Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS applauded
President Bush and the US Congress for their compassionate efforts. The
China Foundation has submitted proposals to various institutions to initiate
AIDS prevention and treatment programs in rural China.
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