China wins hearts of billions by fighting coronavirus

China has won hearts of billions of people around the world by effectively fighting the novel coronavirus outbreak.The comprehensive and timely measures taken by China have saved humankind from the further contagion of the epidemic. The sacrifices of medical workers of China on the frontline of the battle of preventing and controlling the virus has created an unprecedented example of philanthropy in human history. Many people have been touched as photos and videos of the medics and nurses with marks of masks on their faces have gone viral on social media platforms. People have taken their hats off to the angels in white who, showing courage in the face of hardships, just put bandages on their faces and keep working.

Following such unprecedented sacrifices and hard work of the medical workers and timely measures taken by the prudent leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, China has harvested a wide range of good results in their fight against the outbreak. As of March 9th, 59,897 coronavirus-hit patients out of 80,754 have been cured and discharged from hospitals. The number of new infections has significantly decreased in Wuhan and other regions of China. The Chinese scientists are close to developing a vaccine of coronavirus, which is a revolutionary progress and achievement in the fight against the epidemic. Such tremendous achievements of China are of course an invaluable service to humankind for safeguarding them from the virus.

Netizens have taken to different social media platforms to express their love to the medical workers of China. People have expressed their solidarity and sympathy to China and stood with the Chinese in the fight against the outbreak. Apart from them, many heads of the state and the government and top dignitaries of many global organizations have conveyed their condolences and gratefulness to China for their unconditional services to humankind. Many countries including Bangladesh have also offered assistance to China to be a part of its fight against the outbreak.

Lately, a 25-member joint expert team of China and the World Health Organisation (WHO) said China's unprecedented public health responses to the outbreak have yielded notable results in blocking human-to-human transmission of the virus, preventing or at least delaying hundreds of thousands of cases. China has also played a critical role in protecting the international community, buying precious time for countries to adopt active prevention and control measures and providing them with worthwhile experience.

Bruce Aylward, head of the team said measures China has taken have proved effective in curbing a contagious and mysterious disease, especially when the whole of society is committed to the measures. China has averted and probably prevented at least tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of cases. It is extraordinary. "To the people of Wuhan, it is recognized that the world is in your debt. When this disease finishes, hopefully we will have a chance to thank the people of Wuhan for the role they have played," he said.

Earlier, the Director General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO highly appreciates the tremendous efforts China has made to contain the epidemic. China protects not only its own people but also people from other countries in the world. China's efforts and sacrifices deserve appreciation and gratitude from all countries. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also praised China's efforts to stop the novel coronavirus from further spreading. He said that the Chinese people are making huge sacrifices for the whole of humanity.

Though China has succeeded in containing the spread of the virus in its territory, many cases of coronavirus infections have been reported in many countries including Bangladesh. The world should, therefore, forge ahead all-out international cooperation against the virus. In this case, the global community can follow the 'China model' to curb the outbreak as the model has already been proved a success. The world, irrespective of West and East, must follow the suit of China to safeguard human civilisation from the curse of the epidemic. I'm sure that humanity and common sense will prevail in the end. (Written by Md Enamul Hassan)

Md Enamul Hassan is the China correspondent for the Bangladesh Post.