China helps Africa fight Ebola

The specter of Ebola is still haunting West Africa, with the World Health Organization (WHO) saying Wednesday that the virus has killed 7,588 people worldwide out of 19,497 confirmed cases.

China, which experienced a severe outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome over a decade ago and strongly sympathizes with the suffering of the African people, was among the first countries to offer help.

Since April, China has delivered four rounds of humanitarian aid with a combined value of more than 120 million US dollars to the Ebola-stricken countries and sent hundreds of medical workers to the African frontline.

In addition, Beijing has offered another 10 million dollars in cash to international organizations as part of the global collective efforts in subduing the fatal virus.

"China is one of the countries that responded very quickly to the appeal by the Secretary-General for more help," said David Nabarro, the UN coordinator for the fight against Ebola, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

The quick and efficient response of the Chinese people is valuable for these affected countries, added Nabarro.

MIRACLE

In a room of the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, 30 km east of the country's capital, Freetown, lay a little girl infected with the deadly virus. Her mother had died of the virus, and her father had abandoned his family before the massive outbreak.

The bedridden girl, named Yayuma, was admitted to the 100-bed treatment and holding center in November in critical condition, suffering from fever, vomiting, diarrhea and bleeding gums, according to Chinese medical workers.

In the following nine days, Yayuma was too weak to speak or eat, but on the 10th day, she seemed to regain some strength and asked the nurses for food.

"Her temperature returned to normal, and diarrhea and vomiting were less frequent. She recovered so fast that she could walk on her own on the 12th day," said Jin Bo, a Chinese doctor in the medical team, who could not hide his joy about the girl's speedy recovery, especially after witnessing the loss of so many lives.

"The biggest challenge is to communicate with the patients and help reduce their loneliness and fears," said Wu Dan, the head nurse of the medical team.