Journey of the COVID-19 Response in China
A contagious virus of unknown origin, causing flu-like and respiratory symptoms, was detected in Wuhan, China, and was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China on December 31st 2019.
Once announced, the news of COVID-19 travelled quickly from World Vision Health Department Head to World Vision management, which has been operating in China for nearly 30 years, since it's establishment in 1993.
The response plan to the new unknown virus—transmitted from person to person—was approved by the World Vision's Senior Leadership Team by January 6th, 2020.
Continue scrolling to read the most recent updates
World Vision procured 50,000 face masks by the end of January.
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region citizens wear face masks as precaution to protect themselves from the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
As of January 30th 2020:
- There were 9,692 confirmed and 15,238 suspected cases reported throughout China.
- Of the confirmed cases, 1,527 were severe and 213 people had died.
- 171 people had recovered and have been discharged from the hospital.
January 30th, 2020, WHO declared the coronavirus as an epidemic in China, constituting it a public health emergency of international concern.
World Vision distributed 50,000 face masks to
3 provinces in 5 counties
on February 3rd, 2020.
The 5 counties included: Luanping, Baihe, Duchang, Shicheng, and Honghe.
As of February 3rd, 2020:
- There were 20438 confirmed and 23214 suspected cases throughout the country.
- Of the confirmed cases, 2788 were severe and 425 people had died.
- 632 people had recovered and been discharged from hospital.
The medical supplies were donated through World Vision China’s local partners in urgent need, including the education and sports bureau, the health bureau, and public security bureau—where workers use the masks in their efforts to control the spreading of the novel coronavirus.
World Vision China appealed for the funding of US$500,000 for immediate relief assistance on February 4th, 2020
A fully-armed physician treating a patient.
A fully-armed physician treating a patient.
Medical staff hung out the used masks and protective gowns to sterilize them under the ultraviolet ray when they were off duty, so as to enable the reuse.
Medical staff hung out the used masks and protective gowns to sterilize them under the ultraviolet ray when they were off duty, so as to enable the reuse.
Protective gowns were sterilized under the ultraviolet lights to enable reuse.
Protective gowns were sterilized under the ultraviolet lights to enable reuse.
As of February 13th, "Grassroots hospitals are short of epidemic prevention materials, such as surgical masks, isolation gowns and alcohol."
Yiyi, a 34-year-old nurse working at a hospital in Guangxi shared that out of fear of running out of medical supplies, his staff began to sterilize the used masks and isolation gowns under the ultraviolet ray for future reuse.
Yiyi and his colleagues choose to be hopeful despite the circumstances and encourage one another by sharing daily epidemic data of the country. The increasing number of discharged patients or the successive decline of confirmed cases gives them confidence.
Written by: Lu Zhenyan. Note: Aliases were used in this article.
"The biggest difficulty is the lack of protective items," says 27-year-old Dr. Li.
Li works at a township health centre. Her daily job is to provide basic public health services such as preventive vaccination, epidemic prevention and public health supervision.
When an epidemic breaks out, a command is issued. Dr. Li, just like other medical workers, stands fast to her position. She said, "I came back to work on January 24, which is the New Year's Eve. My daily job is to report the statement of highway prevention and control, internal inspection of the virus and write a briefing about the outbreak. I'll be here when needed."
Protective items such as N95 respirators, protective clothing, sterilizer and alcohol are most needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Her greatest wish is that with the joint effort of all the people, the outbreak can soon come to an end.
On February 24th, World Vision scales up its response in China to reach 1.3 million vulnerable children, caregivers and patients affected by COVID-19.
As the outbreak of 2019-nCoV spreads, people stay at home most of the time, leaving the streets nearly empty.
Beyond anti-epidemic medical supplies, World Vision plans to provide psychosocial support with special attention on mental health problems of children in quarantine in order to promote psychological well-being of children and their communities.
Ten-year-old Yueyue says: “I was a little worried about children in Wuhan getting an infection when [the] news report said there were kids infected with [the] novel coronavirus. I’m too scared of being infected to go out.”
Yueyue has stayed home for the last two months since all of the schools are closed due to epidemic prevention and control.
“I prefer studying in classes compared to studying on the internet because I can ask questions when I don’t understand,” she said.
Yueyue really misses her teachers and classmates and hopes to return to school as soon as possible.
Written by Addie Liao
Yueyue is doing her homework at home.
Yueyue is doing her homework at home.
On February 27th, World Vision donated 1,900 bottles of disinfectants to 7 children orphanages in Guangxi and Tianjin City.
Linlin, ready to go downstairs and roller skate outside.
Linlin, ready to go downstairs and roller skate outside.
The COVID-19 outbreak is impacting the everyday lives of children and their families with new isolation regulations.
"I wish the outbreak could be over soon. I want to go downstairs to roller skate," Linlin said.
After completing her homework, watching TV, learning how to dance, and planting some flowers on her balcony... Linlin is eager for some outdoor activities with friends.
When asked about the virus, she said she wasn't scared. She wanted to help her father who is a medical worker by making a poster with prevention measures against the epidemic as well as create a video to encourage everyone to take precaution in order to protect themselves.
Written by Addie Liao
Family Packs were created as part of World Vision China's COVID-19 Response to reach1.3 million vulnerable people.
Each Family Pack includes hand sanitizers, hand soap, towel, tissue paper and thermometers.
World Vision staff and the supplier's workers have been working tirelessly to provide the much needed medical gear and equipment to fight the spread of COVID-19 and keep communities and health workers safe.
The most recent distribution provided the following:
- 84 medical types of equipment (ventilators, respiratory humidifiers, ECG monitors) distributed to 3 hospitals in Wuhan
- 28,000 bottles of disinfectants reaching 21 project sites
- 400,000 masks arrived in Shanghai
- 43,500 N95 masks, 50,000 Family Packs, 2300 forehead thermometers and 1,700 protective clothing dispatched to 8 provinces in the coming weeks.
On March 11th, WHO characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.
Today, World Vision is responding to the coronavirus pandemic as it continues to spread around the globe. At the heart of our response is a deep concern about the impact this crisis could have on the most vulnerable children around the world.
WE AIM TO RAISE
US$4.7 million
As COVID-19 sweeps the world
World Vision is working hard to limit the impact on vulnerable children
FIND OUT HOW
