Women Soldier Heads for Epicenter to Fight Against Novel Coronavirus Epidemic

Ma Jianjun posted a WeChat moment on January 26, the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, to give encouragement to his wife Jiang Xue.

Jiang, a head nurse at the Tangdu Hospital of the Airforce Medical University in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, was working in a hospital to treat patients infected with novel coronavirus in Wuhan, capital city of Central China's Hubei Province.  

Seeing her husband's encouraging words, Jiang shed tears and said she was grateful for the continuous support from her family, adding that as a soldier she will live up to her mission.

Jiang is one of the medical workers the Chinese military has sent to help take care of patients in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

After a hasty gathering with her family on the morning of January 24, the eve of the Chinese New Year, Jiang went back to hospital and then headed for Wuhan with her fellow medical workers in the evening.

They arrived at the city's airport on midnight that very day. Without any rest, all the members of the medical team began to offer nursing services and medical support to doctors at a local hospital.

Jiang discussed the details of infectious disease management with her colleagues while beginning routine work such as injections, drug distribution, keeping nursing records and taking care of patients.

Some of the patients feel depressed or anxious. Jiang always encourages them to be optimistic to ease their fear and anxiety. "Don't worry. We are beside you. Strong faith can help defeat disease," she said to her patients.

It is her third time to take on such an important and urgent medical emergency, following the devastating Wenchuan earthquake in Southwest China's Sichuan Province in 2008 and an overseas medical relief mission to fight against Ebola disease in Liberia, Africa.

"I have been through three significant missions from 2008 to 2020. Two have been finished and one is ongoing. I will accomplish it this time and it is my honor of life," Jiang said.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)