Chinese expert team concludes COVID-19 mission to Palestine after exchanges of experience

RAMALLAH -- A Chinese medical expert team has concluded a week-long mission in Palestine after exchanges of anti-coronavirus experience, leaving with appreciation for their work to support the local fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as well as an accord on continued health cooperation.

It had still been a busy day Tuesday, a day ahead of their scheduled departure on June 17 afternoon.

On the day, the Chinese experts held a video meeting with Palestinian health officials in the Gaza Strip on coronavirus control measures and the COVID-19 situation in the coastal enclave.

The video conference was held at the Health Ministry building in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

As of June 16, Gaza's caseload was 72, including 45 recoveries and one death. In Palestine, there had been 700 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported, with 570 recoveries and five deaths.

Also on June 16, head of the government-run Palestine Medical Complex (PMC), Ahmed Bitawi, and the head of the Chinese team, Hu Peng, signed a framework agreement on telemedicine cooperation between the PMC in Ramallah and the Second Affiliated Hospital of China's Chongqing Medical University.

"This visit has been successful by all measures, especially on the medical side. The delegation held various meetings, visits and tours to the quarantine and isolation centers in Ramallah, Bethlehem and Turmosaya, in addition to an exchange of viewpoints on epidemiology and preventive and treatment protocols," Health Minister Mai al-Kaila told a farewell ceremony held in Ramallah on Tuesday.

Head of the Palestinian National Institute of Public Health, run by the World Health Organization (WHO), Rand Salman, said the Chinese medical team's mission has enriched the Palestinian experience in combating COVID-19.

During their stay, the Chinese experts exchanged views with the Palestinian side and shared China's experience from its anti-virus battles, covering areas ranging from virus testing and quarantine measures to clinical treatment.

On Sunday, the team paid a visit to the Central Public Health Lab in Ramallah and to the Hugo Chavez Hospital in the Turmosayya town -- facilities for COVID-19 testing, case isolation and treatment.

They also took part in technical discussions with Palestinian clinicians on the premises of the Palestinian Health Ministry, which, Ali Abedrabbo, head of the health ministry's preventive medicine department, said were very helpful.

In addition, the Chinese experts met with medical staff of the government-run PMC, which has been tasked with treating infected pregnant women.

PMC chief Bitawi said, "We thank the Chinese leadership and people for this visit, which enriched the scientific dialogue and discussions ... The visit has helped us gain significant experience."

The Chinese experts spoke highly of what their Palestinian counterparts have done to contain the coronavirus' spread.

On June 13, for instance, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, a tourist attraction and the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Palestinian territories, Hu, after being briefed on the overall management of the public health crisis there, said, "We have the same mechanism, where we had multi-disciplinary teams for the health sector, the security and the logistics. It is a very strong guarantee for fighting the pandemic."

The Chinese team leader also deemed the trip to Palestine an opportunity to learn more about dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

On June 11, one day after the arrival of his team, there had been 665 confirmed infections reported in Palestine, with five deaths and a recovery rate of nearly 88 percent since the virus' outbreak in early March.

"I shall avail this opportunity to have an in-depth exchange of views with the medical institutions together with the medical staff to learn how this success was reached," Hu noted, saying his team was interested in the "comprehensive recovery and the treatment and diagnosis of COVID-19 all over Palestine."

The Chinese team, which was put together by China's National Health Commission, comprises 10 experts from various fields, such as respiratory and infectious diseases, traditional Chinese medicine, epidemiology, and nursing.

Its visit was welcomed by Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ishtaye as an embodiment of "both medical and political solidarity" between his country and China, saying, "We are grateful that the team has come at the very right time."

Prior to this visit, China had sent medical supplies to Palestine and organized several expert video meetings.

Guo Wei, director of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, said Tuesday that the cooperation between China and Palestine in the health sector will continue through various forms after this visit.