China calls for all-out measures to save milk victims
Four children have died and over 6,000 are sick after drinking contaminated milk
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Saturday, 20, Sep 2008 11:15
The Chinese government has ordered "all-out measures" to be taken to save children who have fallen sick after drinking contaminated milk.
Four children have died so far and more than 6,000 are receiving treatment after drinking milk produced by some of the country's most well-known companies.
State-run Xinhua news agency cited a circular issued by the country's cabinet which called for screening efforts to be stepped up across the country and for local governments to cover the medical expenses of victims.
It also called for local authorities to take measures to bring about "a fundamental change to the dairy market and products".
A total of eighteen people have been arrested so far over supplying milk with the chemical additive, Melamine, which is used in manufacturing plastic goods. A provincial mayor and senior agricultural ministers in the province of Shijiazhuang have also been sacked over the crisis.
Countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Tanzania have put a halt to imports of dairy products from the country after reports of poisonings emerged.
Three companies have been named by the government as being responsible for adding chemicals to milk in order to pass quality control tests.