Chen Xin, deputy to the National People's Congress and vice president of Nanjing First Hospital, chief of cardiothoracic vascular surgery, is attending the ongoing NPC session in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Plus] 

　　"I hope society can respect medical staff more, people should treat doctors and nurses better," said Chen Xin, deputy to the National People's Congress and vice president of Nanjing First Hospital, chief of cardiothoracic vascular surgery.

　　He shares with China Plus stories of the battle against the COVID-19 outbreak that happened inside his hospital and out while he is attending the ongoing NPC session in Beijing.

　　Nanjing First Hospital sent a medical team to Wuhan to support the battle against the COVID-19 outbreak in February. [Photo provided to China Plus] 

　　"I will never forget the scene when we sent a medical team that consists of 132 colleagues, including doctors and nurses of our hospital, to Wuhan to support the battle against the COVID-19 outbreak. It was in early February. Our medical team was organized within only two hours.

　　"We sent a notice via WeChat, and got about two hundred volunteers in a short period.

　　"We send them to the airport. We were all aware that doctors and nurses in Wuhan had been infected, and people died because of this virus. So, it's pretty risky to join in the supporting team. They risked their own lives to help others. What selfless dedication!

　　"I remember very clearly when we saw them off in the airport. I could not help but weep, because... (sobbing…) excuse me… because that might be the last time I see them and talk with them. We said nothing else but repeated ‘good-bye,' ‘take care' and ‘stay safe.'

　　A doctor of the medical team of Nanjing First Hospital is working in Wuhan. [Photo provided to China Plus] 

　　"A nurse who had only worked half a year in my department also joined the team. She didn't even tell her family about her going to Wuhan.

　　"What I want to express and stress is, I hope that society respects medical staff more, and that people treat doctors and nurses better. Medics are always the ones who risk their own lives to save others’ and fight against diseases at the frontline whenever an epidemic comes.

　　Nanjing First Hospital's medical team are woking in Wuhan. [Photo provided to China Plus] 

　　"I have always supported that medical staff should get a higher income, not only because of their selfless contribution during the pandemic, but also only in this way, can we attract more talented students to study medicine and become doctors.

　　"Personally, I am a heart surgeon in Nanjing 1st hospital. Even during this tough period of pandemic, we still did more than 50 emergency surgeries, including six heart transplants.

　　Nanjing First Hospital's supporting medical team return to Nanjing. [Photo provided to China Plus] 

　　"Our hospital is one of the only two hospitals that can operate heart transplant surgery in Jiangsu Province. We got a donor during the coronavirus outbreak. But the donated heart was 2000km away. So I sent a team to take it. But all team members had to travel by public transportation: taxi, train and plane.

　　"It was at the beginning of the epidemic, when we had limited medical supplies and PPE. Fortunately, the flight was not very crowded. They took the donated heart and went to the airport by taxi, then rushed to the security check and got on board. It took about six hours to take it back to our hospital.

　　"After the business trip, they had to quarantine for a couple of days. Fortunately, they are all fine. But if, I mean if, someone became infected, I will feel guilty and sad."

　　Chen Xin, deputy to the National People's Congress and vice president of Nanjing First Hospital, chief of cardiothoracic vascular surgery [Photo provided to China Plus]