Beijing, January 22 (China News Service) -- On Chinatown, Siron, Johannesburg, South Africa, there is an isolation point for patients with new coronary pneumonia, where some Chinese patients with mild illness are isolating. Each of them has a separate room, the living facilities in the house are complete, food, traditional Chinese medicine, epidemic prevention materials, etc. are provided free of charge, and Chinese medicine provides remote consultation services.
In December last year, South Africa discovered a variant of the new crown pneumonia virus, the number of confirmed cases surged, and the infection of overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese also appeared. "To avoid cross-infection among Chinese families, we opened a free quarantine on Chinatown on January 1." Zhu Yiyuan, deputy director of the South African Chinese Police-Civilian Cooperation Center, said that the first wave of patients has recovered, and there are new patients in the past few days.
At present, the epidemic prevention and control situation in many African countries is grim, and the epidemic situation in South Africa, Kenya, Angola and other countries has rebounded significantly. At present, overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese in Africa are working together with one heart and one mind, uniting and helping each other, and building a safety defense line for compatriots by setting up isolation points for patients with mild diseases and distributing epidemic prevention materials.
In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, at the entrance of the office of the Tanzania Chinese Chamber of Commerce, masks, hand sanitizer, traditional Chinese medicine and other epidemic prevention materials are piled into "hills" every weekend for overseas Chinese to receive free of charge. Zhu Jinfeng, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said, "There are too many people who come to collect supplies, and in order to prevent gathering, we put a stool every one meter, a total of one hundred or so, so that everyone can sit and wait." ”
Zhu Jinfeng told reporters that some of these epidemic prevention materials were donated by the domestic overseas Chinese affairs department, and the rest were purchased by local overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese. "The Spring Festival is approaching, and the Chamber of Commerce has also prepared condolence money, and those Chinese who are sick, unemployed or have other difficulties can apply for it, and we cannot let any compatriot have no food and no place to live."
"At present, the second wave of the epidemic in Kenya is serious, and overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese are basically staying at home to avoid the epidemic." Gao Wei, executive vice president of the Kenya Overseas Chinese Federation, said that at present, the relevant information of confirmed Chinese patients is released through WeChat groups, such as when they are infected, where they have been, etc., to remind Chinese who have contact with him to test as soon as possible.
While helping each other fight the epidemic, overseas Chinese in Africa have also devoted themselves to "helping others" and contributing to the fight against the epidemic and economic recovery in their "second hometown" by donating money and materials to the people living in the country and brokering Sino-African economic and trade cooperation.
"After the outbreak of the epidemic in South Africa last year, we launched an initiative to donate to the local area in the overseas Chinese community, and so far we have raised nearly 1 million yuan and purchased 720,000 masks to give to the south African police department at all levels." Zhu Yiyuan told reporters that in October last year, a batch of Lianhua Qing plague capsules were also donated to the government of the free state of South Africa to help the confirmed patients alleviate their condition.
Xu Ning, president of the Angolan Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said that since the establishment of the "Anti-COVID-19 Fund" in April last year, the Chamber of Commerce has donated materials to the local government, youth community shelters, homeless resettlement centers, orphanages, hospitals and so on. "We also have a designated assistance agreement with an orphanage in Angola to send food, toys and daily necessities to the children every holiday."
"The epidemic has impacted Angola's economic and social development, and Chinese businessmen have actively used their advantages of connecting China and foreign countries to help the local economy recover." Xu Ning said that in September last year, the Chamber of Commerce reached a cooperation with a new material cable company in Fujian, hoping to use Chinese technology to help Angola move towards a modern life; the Chamber of Commerce also established a cooperative relationship with the Angolan BIC Bank and planned to carry out business together.
In the process of helping Kenya recover its economy, overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese have also played a role in matchmaking. At the end of November last year, Gao Wei and his trading company hosted the "Third Kenya International Industry Exhibition", at which 93 Chinese companies and Kenyan customers connected with the cloud and reached cooperation intentions in building materials, automobiles and other fields.
Gao Wei said that many Kenyan buyers admire China's epidemic prevention and control capabilities, but also have a strong interest in Chinese companies and products. "In this context, overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese should do a good job of 'red brides' and continue to promote China-Kenya economic and trade cooperation to 'swim against the current.'" (End)
Source: China News Network