MEDICAL EXPERTS. Weng Shangeng (left), vice president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University (FAHFMU), and Zheng Huiwen, the Chinese government executive accompanying the delegation, engage reporters during a virtual press conference on Friday. Twelve Chinese medical experts are in the country to provide technical advice on preventing and controlling the spread of Covid-19. (Screenshot from the virtual press conference)
MANILA – The visiting Chinese medical team in Manila hailed on Friday Filipino front-liners for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients with a "high success rate".
"The medical staff in the Philippines are very professional, they are able to follow the standard protocol in diagnosis and the treatment of Covid-19 and the results of the treatment are good with a high success rate," said Dr. Weng Shangeng, head of the Chinese medical team in Manila.
The Chinese experts were also "deeply moved" by the health workers' active work in the face of the outbreak "despite the shortage of manpower, personal protective equipment, and sub-par work conditions."
Weng's group, composed of 12 medical specialists, arrived on April 5 to provide Manila with technical advice on epidemic prevention and control.
In the past few days, they discussed with health stakeholders’ best practices to arrest Covid-19's spread, the diagnosis and treatment model of China, and the possible application of "traditional medicine".
"Through field visits, data analysis, and multiple exchanges, we believe that the response measures taken by the Philippine government and the Department of Health to this pandemic are positive, productive, and effective," he said during the virtual conference with the media.
Weng lauded the establishment of quarantine facilities for suspected cases and added laboratories for testing.
On the other hand, he underscored the need for improved testing capacity, contact tracing efforts, and more "mobile hospitals" for treating both suspected and confirmed cases.
"We believe that it (Philippines) will better control the spread of this disease after increasing the capacity of testing and increasing the number of mobile keeping hospitals," he said.
More aid
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, meanwhile, said Beijing is ready to extend more assistance to Manila amid the global health crisis.
"Up to now, the Chinese government has donated three batches of medical supplies to the Philippines including 102,000 test kits, 400,000 surgical masks, 14,000 medical N95 masks, 15,000 medical protective suits, 5,000 medical face shields, and 30 non-invasive ventilators. Other batches of needed supplies are forthcoming in the near future," he told reporters.
The Chinese government also assisted Manila in purchasing essential medical supplies from China and made representation with Chinese enterprises "to ensure timely production and abundant supplies" for the country.
"China has so far assisted the Philippines in purchasing nearly 10,000 cubic meters of anti-epidemic supplies and a large amount of medicines, effectively meeting the demand of the Philippines," the envoy said. (PNA)
