Empathetic Doctors and Competent Translators Fight Against COVID-19 Hand in Hand: Staff of 5th Affiliated Hospital of SYSU and Volunteers of SIS Share Anti-Pandemic Stories
On September 13th, 2020, Empathetic Doctors and Competent Translators Fight against COVID-19, the fifth lecture for the new student orientation of the School of International Studies (SIS), was successfully held in the teaching building. Xiao Fei, Party Secretary of Infectious Disease Department of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), reported to the new students of 2020 on their anti-pandemic work. Lin Qiaoyi, one of the postgraduates of SIS, shared with the new students how the volunteers helped the hospital fight against the pandemic. From their speeches, the new students realized the difficulties of responding to the pandemic and felt a great passion to serve the country.
In the beginning, Mr. Xiao told the students about his career in medicine. It was a long and difficult journey to become a doctor. Twenty-four years ago, medical students were required to do self-study in school. There were no weekends and summer and winter vacations. Tedious reality stood in sharp contrast to glorious dreams. However, Mr. Xiao had always been inspired to push his boundaries along the journey by the motto “live a life of contentment; be aware of your limitations at work; stay hungry for knowledge”.
(Party Secretary Xiao Fei reporting to the new students on the anti-pandemic work of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of SYSU)
During the pandemic, Mr. Xiao and the medical team of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of SYSU, battled against COVID-19, which was arduous but unforgettable. As the vanguard, CPC members played an exemplary role, setting aside their fears to fight at the frontline. It was their selflessness and bravery that led the hospital to gain significant progress in anti- pandemic work and become rightfully acclaimed as the backbone for fighting against corona-virus in Zhuhai. Regarding decontamination and cleaning, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital performed sterilizing and disinfecting properly, reducing the risk of infection to the minimum. In terms of scientific research, the hospital accumulated rich experience from practice and formulated a characteristic plan to defeat COVID-19. And when conducting clinical research, the hospital built the first permanent structured makeshift emergency hospital in China. The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of SYSU has always borne in mind the words of the General Secretary Xi Jinping’ and put the people’s lives and health first. The staff of the hospital keeps the guard up against COVID-19 and stay on full alert, fulfilling their responsibilities perfectly.
In the end, Mr. Xiao encouraged the students to “forge ahead with even greater resolve, live the life to the fullest, hold strong to faith and shoulder responsibilities”, no matter which position they occupy. He also inspired them to make contributions to the development of the country.
Next, Guo Cong, a postdoctoral researcher of SIS, and Lin Hong, head nurse of the Phoenix International Medical Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of SYSU shared with the new students the stories of the postgraduate volunteers of SIS working with the Fifth Affiliated Hospital in response to the pandemic. Mrs. Lin started her speech by noting the background of international medical cooperation, and proposed the idea of “building the bridge for cross-cultural communication wholeheartedly”. She indicated that with the growing integration of the world, international medical cooperation had been strengthened across the five continents, and therefore, more translators and interpreters were in need to act as assistants for communication between doctors and patients. What the postgraduate volunteers did to assist the hospital to guard against the virus was exactly playing the role of the bridge. They sorted out and classified the medical supplies donated by foreign countries, made patient communication cards, and so on. The volunteers participated in the efforts to fight against the pandemic in their way, which added vibrant color to their youth.
(Dr. Guo telling stories of the postgraduate volunteers of SIS working with the Fifth Affiliated Hospital in response to the pandemic)
(The head nurse Lin Hong recognizing the voluntary work of the postgraduates of SIS)
Dr. Guo implied that under the influence of the Belt and Road Initiative, a national strategy, Zhuhai is undoubtedly an emerging global city considering its position in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. She hoped that the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of SYSU should earn its reputation, go abroad and make China’s medical presence felt by the world.
(The students listening attentively)
At last, Yang Chengshu, a professor of SIS, introduced the special postgraduate course: International Medical Translation. She elaborated on the present career options and the development prospects of international medical services and encouraged students to actively take cross-disciplinary studies and contribute their shares to the development of the international medical service system.
(Professor Yang introducing the special postgraduate course: International Medical Translation)
Battling against COVID-19 is a daunting task. The current security and stability are won by numerous medical workers and service providers. With a heart of gold, they are fully occupied containing the virus in various areas. As Chinese young people in the new era, we should be as passionate and selfless as them, live up to the expectation of the university, and work hard so that we deserve what the country has done for us.
