STORY: China takes measures to ensure timely medical care for children amid rise in respiratory illnesses
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 3, /Dec. 9, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 18, 2023
LENGTH: 00:00:57
LOCATION: ZHENGZHOU/GUANGZHOU, China
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of hospitals and children in China
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): GAO FENG, Head Nurse of Pediatric Ward 5, Henan Provincial People's Hospital
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG BIN, Director of the Pediatric Center at Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University

STORYLINE:

Facing the recent high incidences of respiratory illnesses among children, medical authorities across China have coordinated medical resources and taken multiple measures to meet the increasing demand for medical treatment.

The National Health Commission (NHC) said that it will fully tap the potential of pediatric diagnosis and treatment services and expand the total number of available service resources.

Currently, pediatric medical institutions nationwide continue to run around the clock, providing necessary medical support for minor patients.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): GAO FENG, Head Nurse of Pediatric Ward 5, Henan Provincial People's Hospital
"This 'Pediatric Ward 5' sign you see here is a temporary one. We set up the ward in response to the surge in mycoplasma pneumonia cases among children. Our team managed to get the ward ready and organized within just one day."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG BIN, Director of the Pediatric Center at Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University
"We're putting more manpower towards outpatient care. At peak times, patients usually wait for no more than two hours, and most of the time, they get seen within half an hour to an hour."

Medical institutions should extend their outpatient reception hours, add available outpatient service numbers, expand consultation rooms and diagnosis and treatment areas in hospitals, and set up nighttime and weekend outpatient departments according to the medical treatment needs of their children patients, said the NHC.

Monitoring data show that the recent respiratory infectious diseases are mainly influenza, along with others caused by rhinovirus, mycoplasma pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, and the like.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Zhengzhou/Guangzhou, China.
(XHTV)