Experts shed light on virus fight in Wuhan

Scholars exchange ideas at virtual conference

ISLAMABAD: In the wake of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic requiring cooperation and collaboration between global communities, experts at a Chinese university and their counterparts in Pakistan exchanged ideas about the virus via a video conference.

Around 20 experts and scholars from China’s Jiaotong University (XJTU) and the University of Peshawar (UoP) held a video conference on Covid-19 prevention and treatment.

Higher Education Commission -Gwadar Director-General Dr Safdar Ali Shah said that UoP Vice-Chancellor Prof Asif Khan, XJTU Vice-President Xi Guang and others participated in the online conference.

Covid-19 poses great trade challenge

“Cooperation and exchange among educational institutes at this crucial moment are of great value. Experience sharing will contribute to the global fight against Covid-19,” Dr Shah said.

Xi mentioned that the pandemic has been largely controlled in China, adding that the experience of fighting the virus will help Pakistan and other countries in containing the disease.

“The Second Affiliated Hospital of XJTU had sent a medical team of more than 300 medics to Wuhan, the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak,” Xi said, pointing to the first-hand experiences in fighting the virus gained by them.

“Our students returned to class recently. We believe that through joint efforts, things will get better for universities in Pakistan in the near future."

Prof Gong Shouping from the Second Affiliated Hospital of XJTU, one of the first third-level grade-A hospitals in China, briefed about the medics’ experience on the frontlines in Wuhan. He also illustrated some of the key measures taken to contain the pandemic.

Three more Pakistanis die of coronavirus in US

Other Chinese medical experts shared their views on the etymology, epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of Covid-19. They also presented the structure and functions of makeshift hospitals which had played an important part in China’s fight against the epidemic.

Prof Asif said that he was delighted to see the pandemic, which broke out earlier this year, had been controlled in China.

“This gave Pakistan confidence and strength to tackle the virus,” he said, adding that sharing ideas between the two universities will set an example for related regions to work together to end the pandemic.

Former Pakistani cricketer dies of coronavirus

Medical experts from both countries also discussed group and personal protective measures during the orderly resumption of work, production and schooling.

They also agreed that international and regional cooperation should be expanded since all countries are bound together and become a community with a shared future.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2020.