The Patriotic Public Health Movement In The Very Early Days After The Founding Of The People's Republic Of China (1949-1959)

The Communist Party of China led the broad masses of the people to launch the gigantic patriotic public health movement from 1949 to 1959. The patriotic public health movement originated American germ warfare in the war to resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. In the early days after the founding of the People's Republic of China, according to the international situation and the internal lagging sanitary and economic condition, The Communist Party elected the patriotic public health movement development as a political task, from the standpoint of the economic construction and the building of national defense. The health movement contained patriotic feeling, it formed the health work way with Chinese characteristics that carrying on the health movement by relying on the masses. Ten years of the patriotic public health movement had undergone two stages, the first stage had focused on wiping out the vector and the vermin, in this stage, different places carried out shock movements to prevent and cure the pestilence in accordance with their actual conditions. In the wake of pushing ahead with building socialism, the Party Central Committee laid down particular policies to guide the patriotic public health movement, the patriotic public health movement played a greater role in 1949-1959. The second stage had focused on wiping out the four pests, paying attention to hygiene and stamping out the disease. In this stage, extensive and deep-going movements were carried out. The movement had moved into high gear, especially in the Great leap forward in following out the party and the state's principle and policy and leading the masses to launch the movement, the many kinds of patriotic public health organizations at various levels had played an important role. Ten years of the patriotic public health movement had gained great achievements in mental and material civilisation. The patriotic public health movement, patriotic movement to conclude treaty, patriotic movement to increase production and patriotic movement to contribute were coordinated, it supported the front line and smashed the microbe warfare, moreover, this movement popularized healthy knowledge, improved the people's health quality and changed the backwardness of the hygienic Situation. The movement got strength from patriotism and collectivism, so it appealed to people's sense of duty, people's sense of honor and emotion created a better life, so it prevailed habits and customs. In the practice of the public health movement, the Communist Party of China and the broad masses of the people had accumulated a wealth of valuable experience, such as upholding leadership by the Communist Party, relying on the masses, depending on science and technology and following the mass line. However, it still existed some problems such as formalism, ignoring objective law and so on, they brought the movement's sound development about many negative impacts. In different historical periods, although the movement's content and key point had changed, the fundamental purpose about organizing, relying on, serving and benefiting the masses just as it used to be. With the people's rising requirement standards about healthy and sanitary environment, the public health issue is becoming a matter of concern for more and more people. As a public welfare service, the patriotic public health movement not only contains some new contents, but also faces new challenges.In the new period, the experiences of ten years will play an important role in carrying down and developing the good tradition of the patriotic public health movement and building a socialistic harmonious society.