Chinese military medical experts commend Pakistan’s government, army; desire greater public awareness about COVID-19

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chinese military medical experts, currently undertaking a trip of Pakistan during which they have been visiting hospitals and other facilities, have praised the Pakistani government and the Pakistan army for playing their proactive role in control and prevention of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“They have established relatively sound epidemic prevention systems and also made some achievements. However, the general public need to further raise their awareness of the pandemic’s control and prevention, particularly they should do better in keeping a social distance,” Xu Yinzhe, one of the Chinese experts visiting Pakistan to share China’s experience on COVID-19 prevention and control, was quoted as saying by the Chinese media. 

Xu added that they hoped to work together with Pakistan to mobilize the masses to join in the fight against the pandemic. 

The Chinese military medical experts have also commended the Pakistan’s testing capacity of the disease.

“We have visited a total of eight military hospitals in the surrounding areas in the last week and a half. We shared with them our experience of fighting against the coronavirus. They also told us their diagnosis and treatment procedures. As for their problems encountered in fighting the virus, we made suggestions based on our experience, which they thought were helpful,” Zhou Feihu, head of the Chinese expert team and former director of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Department of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, remarked. 

“Both of the tests, quantity and level, at the virology institute are good. One laboratory could conduct about 700 tests every day, which is relatively large. We advise Pakistan to further improve the testing capacity to meet the clinical demand,” Li Mianyang, another military medical expert, suggested. 

Based on their inspection and findings, the Chinese military medical team will work on the clinical front line and conduct research and discussion with the Pakistani medics about the diagnosis and treatment scheme for severe cases in the following more than one month. 

The visiting Chinese military medical team has been sent by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to Pakistan to help them contain the pandemic.

The 10-member medical expert team of PLA, along with a batch of COVID-19 aid, had arrived in Pakistan on April 24. These experts have 

This team, possessing rich diagnosis and treatment experience, not only in COVID-19, but also Ebola and SARS, is the second batch of medical rescue teams to Pakistan, having been sent by the Chinese government. 

The first batch of medical rescue teams, eight experts, had arrived in Pakistan on March 28 and returned home on April 17 after completing their assignment.