(ECNS) -- The UNESCO has approved a resolution to include the centenary commemoration of Chinese medical scientist Gu Fangzhou among its official series of international memorial events at its 43rd General Assembly.
Gu was one of the pioneers in developing inactivated poliovirus vaccines through tissue culture in China and is known as the "father of China's poliomyelitis vaccine."
According to UNESCO in its document titled "Proposals by Member States for the celebration of anniversaries in 2026-2027 with which UNESCO could be associated", Gu isolated the poliomyelitis virus in China for the first time and successfully developed the first batch of live poliomyelitis vaccines and sugar-coated live poliomyelitis vaccines, saving hundreds of thousands of children from disability.
The document states that Gu significantly reduced the average incidence of poliomyelitis and achieved the goal of eradicating poliomyelitis in China by 2000 and maintaining a polio-free state for a long time, benefiting tens of millions of children and making an outstanding and historic contribution to the development of public health in China.
In 2019, Gu passed away at the age of 92.
(By Gong Weiwei)
京公网安备 11010202009201号