Peking University, Beijing, Apr. 16, 2010: Under the organization of the Ministry of Health, the first batch of medical teams from Beijing and Tianjin for the earthquake relief rushed to Yushu in Qinghai Province on the morning of April 15. The team was composed of 93 clinical doctors and nurses from various departments, including general surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, nephrology, trauma and intensive care, pediatrics, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, infections, and hospital infection. They brought nearly six tons medical relief supplies with them to the disaster areas and plan on staying for two weeks.

Forty-two people from Peking University (PKU) First Hospital, PKU People’s Hospital, and PKU Third Hospital took part in this medical team, accounting for nearly 70% of the entire team. These three hospitals also sent medical teams to the disasters areas during the Wenchuan earthquake. Thus, shortly after receiving the notice to set up medical teams for earthquake relief from the Ministry of Health on April 14, they began selecting skilled medical staff members for the team and prepared medical equipment, medicine, and the team members’ daily necessities. Everything was ready before 10 o’clock of that same day. Considering the cold weather in Yushu and the special environment of the Qinghai Plateaus, anti-hypoxia capsules were also prepared and provided for the team members by the organizers.

The leaders of PKU’s affiliated hospitals and related departments such as: Zhang Mao, Secretary of CPC Ministry of Health Committee, Ma Xiaowei, Vice- Minister of Ministry of Health, Ao Yingfang, Secretary of CPC PKU Health Science Center Committee, Gu Yun, Vice-Secretary of CPC PKU Health Science Center Committee, Liu Yucun, Director of PKU First Hospital, Wang Shan, Director of People’s Hospital, and Liu Xiaoguang, Vice-Director of PKU Third Hospital, all attended the departure ceremony. In the ceremony, the leaders gave speeches to motivate and encourage the team members. Zhang Mao pointed out in his speech that the Yushu earthquake has caused such an enormous casualty and property loss that many people have been suffering injuries and displacement, more than ten million people’s lives and health are threatened. Thus, under the unified arrangement of the Minister of Health, all the provinces have set up medical teams for this disaster. He hoped that the team members could support the earthquake relief work through their practical actions with the spirits of hard working, braveness, and perseverance. Ma Xiaowei, Ao Yingfang, Liu Yucun, Liu Xinming, Wang Shan, and He Pei also gave speeches encouraging the medical team to complete the earthquake relief tasks successfully, save as many lives as possible, supply experiences for the following relief tasks and most importantly to return home safely.

In the ceremony, the team members expressed on behalf of all citizens and medical staff members from Beijing, that they have the confidence and determination to live up the hope of the people of China.

Five medical teams made up of 287 medical staff members are being sent to the disaster areas with relief supplies by the health departments of Qinghai, Sichuan, Tibet, and Gansu. The first batch of 150 ambulances has already been sent to Yushu, and the second batch will be sent there soon after. About 170 medical staff members from Sichuan, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Guangdong, Xinjiang, and Tibet are rushing to the devastated areas at the same time. As of now, the back-up members for the medical teams have already been selected from other PKU affiliated hospitals.

Edited by: Connie Chang

Translated by: Su Juan

Source: PKU News (Chinese)