On March 11, Zong’an Liang, chief physician of Respiratory Medicine & Critical Care Department, and Menglin Tang, head nurse of Pediatric ICU of the Critical Care Unit, West China Hospital, joined the expert team of China Red Cross Society and flew to Italy to assist the fight against COVID-19. It has been 6 days since they arrived in Italy. Ms. Menglin Tang writes a diary and keeps track of their daily work: visiting with patients, sharing anti-epidemic experience with local medical workers and running online workshops on COVID-19 for the ethnic Chinese, over the past six days. She will keep us posted with new daily logs.
To my motherland and my family, we will do all we can to accomplish our mission.
Date: 0:25 am 3-11-2020. Drizzle with a breeze, Shanghai.
Being headed by a vice president of the Red Cross Society of China, the volunteer expert team consists of medical professionals from China CDC, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Sichuan Provincial Branch of China CDC. We got only 18 hours to prepare for the trip from the time we were notified of this mission. It was not until I started to do the paperwork for a visa at the Italian Consulate General in Shanghai before I realized that this was real. During the 18 hours, I worked around the clock, packing up for my trip, contacting different departments for the supplies we were supposed to bring, applying for a passport, talking with my leaders and bidding farewell to my families, relatives and friends, ---.
From the moment I received the notice from the hospital, I keenly understood that this is the place for me, a medical professional with 27 years of experience in the Critical Care Unit, to put into practice my expertise, and it is also a test for me by the Party. In this crucial battle against the epidemic, China is the first to combat it.When disaster struck, help came from all sides. Italy, as a friendlystate, has also given us the most valuable support. So far, the situation here is becoming more and more optimistic and we have accumulated a lot of experience in prevention and treatment. The team's overseas help is to bring more Chinese experience to Italy and to contribute to the control of COVID-19 in Italy. As minister Yi Wang of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "the friendship between China and Italy will get new development in the fight against the epidemic."
It is past midnight in Shanghai. I get a short break to comb through my thoughts and relax a little bit. Thinking of the imminent battle at the unknown battlefield, I understand that my only weapon is my 27 years of experience of treating and caring for patients in a critical care unit. I went over the key points of care and respiratory track management of a patient, the three-level protection standards of hospital infection, rescue of critical patients, department environment, staff and other management points in order to adjust according to local conditions in Italy. I received a poem that my daughter composed in the middle of the night. " The bugle blows, and I’m dressed in uniform; Going through thick and thin to fight on the battlefield. Putting behind my own safety to kill the poison king. I have compassions, love and responsibility." After reading this, my worries have all been suddenly swept away. Even the light rain outside the window has become a gentle comfort. So long as we humans all stand united, we will certainly overcome any hardships. Goodnight! My beloved motherland, my beloved families. We will return sound and safe in triumph.
Arrival in Rome. The combat against epidemic knows no borders.
Date: Friday, 3-13-2020. 9:36 ( Rome time ) clear.
It was a 13-hour long-distance flight. We flew in the comfort of a first-class cabin of charter flight for the first time. Nine people and 31 tons of anti epidemic materials were transported in a large aircraft. Even though I have flown many times, whether in domestic or international travel, I have never imagined such a situation. I have never thought that I could have such a particular experience in my 27th year of work. The excitement can't be put in words, and the sense of responsibility and mission on my shoulders is felt more acutely on my mind.
After a long-distance journey, our nine-member delegation finally arrived in Rome at 22:31 local time on March 12. The Chinese ambassador to Italy and the head of Italian Red Cross met us at the airport. The supplies were also handed over to Italy for confirmation and acceptance. When I went back to the residence, I cleaned up briefly and looked at the bags that the hospital had packed for us. I clearly realized that this would be the land where I would fight against the epidemic for some time in the future. We had a video-conference and decided on our subsequent work early in the morning- Under the leadership of the Embassy in Italy, the medical team will work closely with the Italian Ministry of Health, the Red Cross and other relevant departments to exchange views, share China's experience in epidemic prevention so as to jointly promote the prevention and control of COVID-19 in Italy. I am responsible for the introduction of medical nursing care and the control and prevention of the whole team from infection. We have now officially kicked off the epidemic combat in Italy.
" Do a good job of infection prevention and control for the whole team " -- I am keenly aware that these 12 characters mean far more than their literal meaning. Only by going over one more time the management experience of the epidemic prevention and control in this period of time and the relevant information collected by the hospital teachers, can we better fight in armor. Pushing open the balcony window, I can feel the breeze from the Mediterranean Sea. Seeing the peaceful and quaint Italian houses has strengthened my belief in wiping out the virus. Finally, I said to myself, " Come on, Tang Menglin. You can do it! "
Looking at the castles at the end of the street in dusk. I realize how meaningful the war on epidemic is!
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2020 20:00 ( Rome time ) overcast
It is our 3rd day in Italy. The intense and busy life makes us feel full. At 7:00 in the morning, we first held a video-conference with China to brief the current epidemic situation in Italy and the Italian recognition and evaluation of our work. Then Mr. Zhu Chen, President of the Red Cross Society, made arrangements and requirements for our next work. After that, we went to Lazzaro Spallanzani Hospital ( Center for infectious diseases ) to visit a Wuhan Chinese couple who became sick while touring in Italy. At one point, they were transferred to an intensive care unit because they were critically ill. Fortunately, they recovered well under the care of Italian medical staff. It is good news that they are recovering soon. In the afternoon, we went to the University of La Sapienza to learn about the current public health policy, epidemic command system and stratified diagnosis and treatment measures in Italy. Director Zong'an Liang gave the Italian counterparts a detailed introduction of The seventh edition of the novel coronavirus pneumonia diagnosis and treatment plan, and further exchanged ideas on issues of mutual interest. After the symposium, the Italian staff made it clear that they would accept our suggestions, start to reform the three-level protection procedure of the infectious wards, and raise the prevention and control awareness of the public and medical staff. It was a successful experience sharing process.
Cutting off the long hair that I have worn for almost 30 years.
Date: Sunday, March 15, 2020 18:00 ( Rome time ) clear
The bright sunshine wakes the sleeping Rome and kicks off our fourth day of work in Italy. Enjoying a precious free moment early morning in Rome, I got a temporary emotional relief from the beautiful scenery. In the morning, our team hurried to the warehouse of the Italian Red Cross, and then discussed the work plan and arrangement with the relevant personnel of the Italian Red Cross. We expected that Italy could arrange for us to visit the Italian Minister of Health and exchange ideas on the prevention and control of COVID-19 in the two countries. Finally, Italian staff led us to visit the storage center of the Red Cross, which let us understand humanitarian spirit in the true sense of the term. China and Italy have a tradition of close cooperation for many years. Both Italy's support and assistance to China in the wake of Sichuan earthquake in 2008, as well as the frequent exchanges and visits between the two countries, the exchange programs of medical personnel between the two countries, and the introduction of talents of the two countries are testimony to the friendship between China and Italy. This joint anti-epidemic campaign is an opportunity for the friendship between the two countries to rise to a higher level. As the emissary of this bridge, we should complete our mission with high quality and quantity!
Today, a fellow Chinese from a nearby Chinese restaurant came to our hotel and cooked a delicious Chinese meal for us.
I feel a bit nervous to broadcast live to so many “ students ” for the first time.
Date: Monday, March 16, 2020 4:10 a.m. ( Rome time )
It’s already late into night in Rome. I woke up at 4 am due to my jetlag. I grabbed my pen and organized my thoughts. The work is going on in an orderly way in Italy. The busy schedule fills up my life and makes me forget the homesickness. The endearing Italian people have been expressing their care and affection for us on various social websites. The words of their gratitude have attested to the value of our work indirectly.
Another important task of ours is to introduce to the Chinese people, both overseas Chinese and Chinese students in Italy, about the clinical features, prevention and treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia. In order to avoid gathering, the expert team chose to broadcast live about novel coronavirus pneumonia on Baidu and Facebook home page of Ambasciata Cinese Roma simultaneously. 130,000 ethnic Chinese of Italy watched it online.We told everyone how to protect him/herself and others, and asked everyone to look at the severe epidemic in a scientific manner, so as to win the war on the pandemic. I couldn’t help feeling nervous when I broadcast live to so many “ student ” for the first time. On this special " business trip ", I have experienced many firsts: the first time I got reported in CCTV news; the first time I had to cut my beloved long hair, and the first time I had to represent my country, which are all my precious life experience--- In fact, there are only a few things I can do, but I want to do the best I can.
The pithy formula of seven-step hand washing technique has been deeply branded in my mind. Though simple, it has become one of the most powerful weapons in the fight against COVID-19. I know that although ordinary people know the importance of hand washing, there are few people who can wash their hands properly. So, as a West China Hospital nurse, I want to start from the most basic and important knowledge and popularize and demonstrate it in detail. The effectiveness of hand washing is very clear from the perspective of Chinese treatment experience. In the next few days, we plan to go to the north where the epidemic is more serious. The hotel staffs suggest that they would like to take a photo with us.
We are together; we fight together.
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020 4:38 ( Rome time )
A friend sent me a picture today. It was very touching. It is a cartoon created by an Italian girl who hopes " to be dedicated to nurses and doctors, as well as those who come from China to help us, hoping that they can see this cartoon at the front line of the battle ". The main part of the cartoon is a map of Italy. The image of the nurse on the left represents Italy, and the doctor on the lower right represents China. Simple comics let me feel their sincere gratitude and remind me of the good Italian Chinese relations. The panda doctor held the Leaning Tower of Pisa, as if he saw his figure in the cartoon, and he came to Italy from the hometown of the panda. As the cartoon says, here we have come, with the Italian people. A Chinese friend of my colleague's daughter also drew a picture for me -- we were together. Coincidentally, yes, this is our common wish.
