China News Service, Beijing, July 21st, title: Overseas Chinese and Chinese people rescued themselves from the epidemic under the "total blockade" in Uganda
China News Agency reporter Wu Kan
Due to the severe rebound of the epidemic, Uganda implemented a 42-day "total blockade" starting on June 19.
The number of confirmed cases in the local area has risen sharply, and overseas Chinese have also been infected with the epidemic. When medical resources are extremely scarce and hospitals are "difficult to find a bed", they have joined hands to help each other overcome difficulties.
“My dear relatives passed away from an illness and I was deeply grief-stricken. Thanks to fellow villagers for their comfort and support, allowing me to regain the courage to face life.” On July 4, the Ugandan Zhejiang Overseas Chinese Association received a letter of thanks from the wife of Ugandan compatriot Cheng Junming.
Cheng Junming’s wife stated in the letter that her husband, who was doing business in Uganda, passed away on June 11 due to contracting new crown pneumonia. After her husband’s diagnosis, because she and her children could not be taken care of in the country, she had to ask the overseas Chinese group for help. The fellow villagers helped find beds, raised the cost of medicines, took risks every day to visit and deliver meals, and later helped with the funeral. “Now he can finally return to his roots and settle down in peace.”
Under the severe epidemic situation, the Uganda Zhejiang Overseas Chinese Association has been committed to helping compatriots in need.
Chairman Fan Qingyun told reporters, “There are 5,000 or 6,000 overseas Chinese in Uganda. The hospital beds in Uganda are seriously inadequate. We use several Chinese hotels as temporary isolation centers to allow mild Chinese patients to live in. They are helping Uganda medical care in China. The team takes medication under the guidance of the team. Once someone has symptoms such as breathing difficulties, we will find a way to help contact the hospital to find a bed."
"In mid-June, our anti-epidemic drugs were extremely scarce, so we sent a letter of help to the Zhejiang Overseas Chinese Affairs Department. They quickly sent 200 copies of Chinese medicine, which solved our urgent need." Fan Qingyun said that after the outbreak, there were many overseas Chinese affairs departments in his hometown. I sent my heart warming bag and epidemic prevention bag again and again to bring confidence to everyone in fighting the epidemic.
The Ugandan Chinese Association, Uganda Chinese Chamber of Commerce and other local Chinese associations also established the "Uganda Joint Anti-epidemic Emergency Team" in May to help sick compatriots find beds and medicines, and organize everyone to carry out self-help.
“Some Chinese people don’t know what to do after being diagnosed with new coronary pneumonia, so we established a WeChat mutual aid group.” Ji Zhaorong said that there are members of the Chinese aid Uganda medical team and Chinese volunteers in the mutual aid group. The team provided the diagnosis and treatment plan for treatment, and the critically ill patients went to the hospital with the help of volunteers.
He said that we also seek help from some domestic hospitals. Experts from the Yunnan Infectious Disease Specialist Hospital and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University also provide online consultation services for Chinese patients in Uganda.
At present, Uganda has been under a "complete blockade" for more than a month. The Chinese patients infected with the epidemic have basically been cured, and there are fewer new Chinese infected.
Ji Zhaorong said, "The most difficult time has passed, but we still cannot relax our vigilance against the epidemic. Our anti-epidemic emergency team will continue to build a safe line of defense for our compatriots." (End)