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16 May 2003 by France Hurtubise in Beijing Right in the middle of the SARS crisis may not seem the right moment to celebrate. But a visit by Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) President Peng Peiyun to three hospitals dealing with the outbreak on the occasion of International Nurses’ Day offered the chance to pay tribute to the work being done by health care workers in combating SARS. During Mrs Peng’s visit to the Xiaotangshan field hospital and two general hospitals designated exclusively for the treatment of SARS patients, the RCSC showed its appreciation and support for those on the frontline by giving them special protective gear, health food and small gifts. By May 14, a total of 5,086 SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) cases, including 262 deaths, had been recorded on the Chinese mainland. Thousands of nurses around China are putting their lives at risk every day to treat SARS patients, waging a personal battle against fatigue, as well as the highly infectious disease. “Since April 21, the day I started caring for SARS patients, I have only been sleeping six hours a night”, said Li Yan Bin. She remembers a colleague who was among the first victims of the virus in Beijing. “In the early days, we didn’t know how contagious the virus was. When Tang Li Qiong’s husband visited his wife, he got infected and died not long after her”. International Nurses’ Day was also the occasion to acknowledge the contribution of ten Chinese nurses, who were awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal for their outstanding courage and dedication to work. Among them was Ye Xin, 47, head nurse with the Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She received the award posthumously, having died last March after contracting SARS when treating patients with the virus. The Medal is awarded by the International Committee of the Red Cross on proposals made to it by National Societies. Recipients must be nurses or nursing assistants who are active members or regular helpers of a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society, or of an affiliated institution. “The epidemic has brought people closer together,” said Peng Peiyun, said during her visit to the hospitals. The RCSC, which has benefited from generous donations of money and much needed equipment from individuals and companies, is playing an active role in response to the SARS outbreak. “Because there is still no cure for SARS, some people may feel scared, nervous and depressed. He anxiety is causing many to sleep badly,” said the director of the RCSC’s external liaison department, Wang Xiao Hua. Throughout China, tens of thousands of Red Cross booklets giving health education information on hygiene and SARS prevention have been distributed. An around-the-clock RCSC hotline has been set up to answer queries about SARS prevention. Several provincial branches have dispatched medical teams to local communities to provide guidance on disinfection methods as well as to distribute essential medical equipment. Related links: China: appeals, updates and reports Chinese Red Cross News story: Red Cross continues response to widening SARS threat |
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