On April 11, 38 journalists associated with 22 media from around the world came to Wuhan to visit Wuhan Leishenshan Hospital and Wuhan University (WHU), where they met face to face with experts, teachers and students of WHU to learn about the treatment, prevention and control of COVID-19 and related progress in scientific research.
Press conference at the Leishenshan Hospital
The journalists’ first stop was Leishenshan Hospital where a foreign media press conference was held. Taken over by Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University during the epidemic, Leishenshan Hospital played a key role in the battle against COVID-19. Wu Ping, Vice President of WHU, Zhang Yuanzhen, Party Secretary of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University and Wang Xinghuan, President of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, as well as Party Secretary and President of Leishenshan Hospital attended the press conference.
Foreign media journalists at the press conference
Zhang Yuanzhen briefed foreign journalists on the “1+3” treatment model of Zhongnan Hospital and the outstanding contribution made by medical staff in the fight against the epidemic. Zhao Yan, Vice President of Zhongnan Hospital, shared with the foreign journalists the anti-epidemic clinical experience at home and abroad. Yuan Yufeng, Vice President of Zhongnan Hospital and Leishenshan Hospital, elaborated on how it was made possible to coordinate the treatment of patients in different wards by different expert groups.
Journalists raised questions of common concern domestically and overseas about the prevention and control measures taken by Leishenshan Hospital. “Humanity is a community with a shared future. The enemy we are facing is the novel coronavirus. Only when countries all over the world join hands can we address this global challenge and achieve victory in the fight against the epidemic as soon as possible,” Wang said.
The foreign journalists then visited the hospital in the company of medical staff. “What is that on the wall?” a French journalist asked. “It says that ‘we shall overcome’!” “Certainly!” He said, looking at the hand drawing, repeating the slogan.
Journalists showing interest in the hand drawings on the wall
In the afternoon, some of the foreign journalists came to WHU. At the press conference held in the Administrative Building, Vice President Tang Qizhu introduced WHU’s efforts in epidemic prevention and control, teaching and research, and external cooperation, especially in combating the epidemic. Shen Zhuanghai, deputy secretary of the university party committee, attended the meeting.
Press conference at WHU
Tang said the WHU has been utilizing its many strengths in clinical treatment, virology, multi-disciplinary research, and humanities and social sciences since the outbreak of COVID-19 began. The affiliated hospitals on the front line have received comprehensive support, and a large number of patients have been treated with great effort. At the same time, scientific research into the tackling of key problems has been carried out to provide strong scientific and technological support for a victory in the battle against the epidemic. Significant achievements have been made in virus discovery, virus tracing, transmission route detection, viral nucleic acid detection and patient antibody detection, with diagnosis achieved with the assistance of big data and artificial intelligence.
Tang introduced the global assistance efforts initiated by WHU. Making the most of its talent, resources and experience in successfully controlling this major epidemic, video conferences and online seminars have been held with medical staff and researchers in the United States, Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and other countries and regions using online platforms. WHU has been actively sharing scientific data and experience to contribute its wisdom and strength to the worldwide fight against the epidemic.
After visiting the Administrative Building and the History Museum, the foreign media journalists participated in the panel discussion in the lecture hall of the library. 15 teacher and student representatives of WHU, including foreign teachers and international students, interacted with the press delegation.
Zhang Shaodong, Dean of the Undergraduate College of WHU, briefed the visitors on the situation of online teaching. Professor Lan Ke, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Virology, introduced the progress of scientific research on the epidemic. Mr. Ren Chao from Security Department introduced the measures taken for epidemic prevention and control at the school. Xu Hui, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Dean of the School of International Education, spoke about the condition for international students who stayed at the school during the epidemic. A representative of the foreign teachers, Associate Professor Ghamgeen Izat Rashed from the School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, shared his work and life in Wuhan. Sun Hao, a student representative and graduate student of the School of History, spoke about the situation for the students who stayed at school.
Discussion between journalists and teacher and student representatives
In the question-and-answer session, journalists interacted with university experts around vaccine development and application, virus mutation, and measures to control the epidemic.
At the end of the visit, Tang Qizhu concluded, “Even though it is cunning and fierce, we want to defeat COVID-19. About 50 years ago, for example, tuberculosis was a terminal illness in many countries. Now tuberculosis has been almost completely overcome by humans. So I would like to say that with the joint efforts of the whole world, we will eventually gain victory and get our lives back on track again.”
Visit to the History Museum of WHU
Rewritten by Wei Yena
Photo by Gong Yong & Jin Xin
Edited by Liu Xiaojing, Wei Junyi, Sylvia & Hu Sijia
Source:https://news.whu.edu.cn/info/1002/59474.htm
