Daily Times

Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan Yao Jing Tuesday appreciated the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) for setting up a 120-bed Corona Care Hospital in Rawalpindi and creating awareness among the masses about the COVID-19 by mobilizing its trained volunteers.

He was addressing a joint press conference along with Chairman Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Abrar ul Haq at the National Headquarters Auditorium here.

Secretary General PRCS Khalid Bin Majeed and PRCS officers and volunteers were present on the occasion.

Ambassador Yao Jing said Pakistan and China were partners against the Coronavirus adding that the Chinese embassy on a daily basis was striving to provide whatever assistance and expertise Pakistan needed. He expressed the hope that the brave brotherly people of Pakistan will finally overcome the epidemic through national unity, discipline, and awareness in the society.

Chairman PRCS Abrar ul Haq thanked the Chinese government and the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) on behalf of the PRCS and the people of Pakistan for the great support they have always been extending to Pakistan particularly at a time when the country is locked in a tough fight with the COVID-19.

He particularly thanked the Chinese ambassador for supplying 200,000 9N-95 masks and reusable hoodies to the PRCS for their onward distribution to doctors and paramedics busy treating the COVID-19 patients at the government hospitals and other health facilities. He said the PRCS together with the Chinese ambassador was planning something big for Pakistan to come to grips with the unfortunate situation arising from the Covid-19 outbreak.

Abrar said the people of Pakistan had learnt a lot from the Chinese government and people about how to fight the COVID-19 and expressed the hope that the bond between the peoples of China and Pakistan would strengthen further. He said the 10-bed purpose-built hospital was equipped with nine ventilators adding that one ventilator could cater to two patients because of coupling. He said 27 patients could be treated at the hospital’s ICU.

Abrar told the media that the PRCS was facing acute blood shortage due to the lockdown creating a serious situation for the patients, especially the cancer and Thalassemia patients. He requested the nonremunerated voluntary blood donors to visit the PRCS Regional Blood Donor Centre or any other facility for donation.

Secretary General Khalid Bin Majeed said the N-95 masks donated by the Red Cross Society of China were being provided to the hospitals. He said on the request of the Punjab government the PRCS was also setting up eight field hospitals to handle patients, if God forbid, the situation worsened.

Khalid Bin Majeed said the educational institutions were a big source of blood donation but unfortunately, after their closure in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak the Regional Blood Donor Centre of the PRCS was facing shortage of blood. He said it is encouraging that the PRCS is now collecting the required quantity of blood and its products.