Busy scanners helping fight COVID-19 in Central Asia
Is it possible to win a race against death?
Nazira Inoyatova, a radio host in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, had a fond recollection of March 2020. She recalled, "People in the city have carefully planned their activities for the upcoming week, eagerly anticipating the Nowruz celebrations.” Nowruz is the festival that marks the new year on the Persian calendar.
Everything changed overnight. With a surge in COVID-19 cases in Tashkent, the local healthcare system grappled with unprecedented challenges, and doctors had to work day and night. To accommodate and treat COVID-19 patients, the government constructed the Republican Specialized Hospital of Zangiota-2, which can house over 2,000 patients.
An ambulance at the entrance of the Republican Specialized Hospital of Zangiota-2 of Uzbekistan transports COVID-19 patients. (Provided by United Imaging)
The rapid onslaught of the pandemic has dealt an unprecedented blow to Uzbekistan's healthcare system. Lacking efficient medical equipment, patients were left anxiously waiting. Another challenge for doctors was the inability of conventional equipment to detect subtle and elusive lesions, which became a stumbling block in the diagnostic process. Without clear and conclusive medical imaging, it was impossible to make a diagnosis for patients.
Marufjon Salokhiddinov was appointed head of the radiology department of the Republican Specialized Hospital of Zangiota-2 at the height of this crisis. He said: "The infection rate among patients was still high, posing a life-threatening risk. We needed to maintain strict infection control measures within the hospital to avoid cross-infections between patients and medical staff. More than 70% of COVID-19 patients had lung infections, and our radiology department performed over 400 CT scans every day, which imposed a significant burden."
At this critical moment, the introduction and use of United Imaging's CT and MR equipment at the hospital helped doctors win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Salokhiddinov said: "During the pandemic when there was immense pressure on diagnosis, the equipment from the Chinese company was truly a great help to us. United Imaging's CT and MR were the most advanced scanning devices available to us. The CT scanner could handle over 150 scans per day, greatly enhancing our diagnostic efficiency. Previously, we encountered difficulties in diagnosing asymptomatic patients, but these devices could clearly show lung infections in such cases, providing us with much-needed relief."
Marufjon Salohidinov, a Uzbek doctor, uses United Imaging's CT equipment to view the lung image of a COVID-19 patient. (Provided by United Imaging)
In October 2021, Salokhiddinov was honored with the Presidential Medal for the 30th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan by the local government. "I am grateful to all those who supported me on the journey. My dream would not have become a reality without the support of United Imaging. The AI-empowered uCT scanner from United Imaging is not only useful for pneumonia detection but can also be used for clinical research in various fields such as oncology, neurology and traumatology in the future," he said in his acceptance speech.
Inside the Republican Specialized Hospital of Zangiota-2 of Uzbekistan, a local technician operates a United Imaging machine. (Provided by United Imaging)
At this hospital in Central Asia, the scanners from China have brought health and hope to people in Tashkent.
The photo shows a bird's-eye view of the Republican Specialized Hospital of Zangiota-2 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. (Provided by United Imaging)
Teaching people "how to fish" to bring lifelong benefits
At the Cambodian Tebenkmon Provincial Hospital, young medical professionals gather around a set of large digital medical device that has been newly acquired from China and hope to be the first to master the operation of it.
From its inception, the hospital was positioned to be the largest and most advanced modern general hospital in the province, with the goal of significantly improving healthcare conditions for the people of Cambodia. Therefore, it is imperative to equip the hospital with state-of-the-art digital medical devices.
After thorough deliberation, CT and MR equipment from United Imaging was selected and shipped from Shanghai to Tebenkmon Province. Once the equipment installation and debugging were completed, Chinese engineers promptly organized a five-day intensive training and practice session, with daily courses of 10 hours. During the session, the engineers taught local healthcare personnel how to operate the two devices, without withholding any details. The objective was to ensure that the medical staff would be proficient in operating the equipment and conducting patient examinations even after the engineers' departure. Yu Letian, an engineer from United Imaging, said, "I feel honored to contribute my efforts to the rapid use of Chinese medical equipment for the benefit of the Cambodian people."
Giving away fish is not as good as teaching one how to fish. To give people fish and you only provide them with one meal; to teach them to fish and they can benefit throughout their lives. On March 15, 2022, the Tebenkmon Provincial Hospital officially opened. At the inauguration ceremony of the hospital, then Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said: "The medical and health departments in Cambodia will make the most out of the advanced equipment gifted by China, effectively enhance the training of healthcare personnel, and improve medical technology and standards, so as to assume the responsibility for the health of our people."
Currently, the imaging and laboratory departments of the hospital are equipped with a range of devices and instruments, such as MR and CT equipment. An emergency department physician said the devices provided by China have been a tremendous help.
These two medical devices not only serve the healthcare needs of the people in Tebenkmon Province but also provide improved medical services for the wider population in northern provinces such as Kratie, Stung Treng and Mondulkiri provinces. The Tebenkmon Provincial Hospital, being the largest and most advanced modern general hospital in the province, plays a crucial role in this regard. According to the hospital's president, ever since the hospital began operation, it has greatly improved healthcare conditions in the local area, and there has been a decrease in the number of patients seeking medical treatment outside the region.
Tana, a patient living nearby, said: "In the past, many people with serious illnesses chose to seek treatment in the capital city, Phnom Penh. Now that we have a modern hospital and equipment in our vicinity, there is no need to travel elsewhere for medical care anymore, and our expenses are also cut significantly."
Driving on the road of life
"I have been a driver for 20 years, and it was by far the most challenging experience,” said a driver while recalling the journey of delivering medical equipment to Nepal from China, adding that he cannot help but still feel a chill running down his spine. "Witnessing the wreckage of cars that had been struck by falling rocks on the road, I felt that driving on this route was putting my life at risk."
In June 2020, Nepal was facing a serious COVID-19 outbreak, with 9,026 confirmed cases registered throughout the country and new cases continuing to rise. Existing medical equipment in the country was unable to meet the growing demand for diagnosis.
In response to Nepal's request, United Imaging promptly arranged for 30 mobile digital X-ray machines to be sent to Nepal.
Due to the impact of the pandemic, all air transportation routes were closed, and land transportation was the only option. The journey of over 5,000 km began in eastern China, and went through the extended east route of National Highway 318 in Tibet, before entering the Kingdom of Nepal via the Zham Pass. Snow-capped peaks of several thousand meters high scattered along the road, and the drivers had to carefully maneuver along the cliff edges and grapple with a succession of steep slopes and sharp bends. It was in the middle of the rainy season, and the weather on the plateau was unpredictable. Road sections damaged by landslides were a common sight. Basketball-sized rocks rolled down slopes with a steep inclination of 60 degrees, forcefully impacting the road surface and creating deep potholes that evoked a sense of unease. One driver recounted: "At that moment, I had to skillfully maneuver the steering wheel while remaining extremely focused. In my mind, I knew I was transporting high-end medical equipment urgently needed for emergencies. I was afraid of it getting wet or damaged from the tremble, so I had to exercise utmost caution."
The road from the Zham Pass to Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, is also highly perilous. As the terrain descends steeply from the plateau to the valley, the route primarily consists of downhill sections. Furthermore, numerous sections of the road lack safety barriers. Each move taken by the driver carries the potential to impact not only his own fate but also that of the entire vehicle and even patients awaiting diagnosis. There was no margin for error.
After arduous transportation lasting nearly 20 days, the 30 mobile X-ray machines from United Imaging were successfully delivered to Kathmandu and subsequently distributed to hospitals across Nepal. These machines became crucial pillars of frontline efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic, offering vital support to local hospitals that were plagued by equipment shortages.
Nowadays, the once prominent players in the fight against the pandemic continue to make significant contributions to Nepal's basic healthcare system.
In the era of the digital economy, digital technologies are reshaping the potential for human health, effectively enhancing local medical standards. Currently, United Imaging has established its presence in approximately one-third of the countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. United Imaging is dedicated to leveraging digital health technologies to support the medical development of Belt and Road countries and empower their healthcare endeavors. (By Dong Xiaohan)
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