In Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit over 50 countries, with more than 7,000 confirmed cases. Chinese medical experts at West China Hospital of Sichuan University have shared their experience in combating COVID-19 with their counterparts at Maputo Central Hospital in Mozambique.

The two-hour training program comes at the request of the Mozambican government. It included the diagnosis and treatment, as well as the management of medical staff and patients.

"China has taken very strong measures in the prevention and control of this epidemic, which helped curb its development quickly. Mozambique wants us to organize this remote training to pass on medical knowledge to their staff, and to better respond to the outbreak," said Liu Lunxu, vice president of West China Hospital.

Mozambique has declared a state of emergency after ten infections were confirmed on April 1. Its neighbor – South Africa – has reported over 1,500 cases, making it the hardest-hit country in Africa.

"The training is an opportunity for our medical staff to learn about China's advanced experience and measures for coronavirus prevention and control. We have mobilized all our medical staff to respond to the outbreak," said Mouzinho Saide, president of Maputo Central Hospital.

According to China's National Health Commission, there are around 1,000 Chinese medical experts working in Africa, providing medical support and treating local patients. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, they have organized more than 250 health-related programs and helped train over 10,000 local medical staff.

Mouzinho Saide told CGTN that Chinese experts had brought to them skills covering surgery, urology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, anesthesia, obstetrics and gynecology.

"The patients treated by the Chinese medical team highly appreciate their medical expertise. They have helped improve Mozambique's medical capabilities," he added.

At the training session, the two sides discussed the biosecurity of operating rooms, managing isolation areas and protecting medical staff at Intensive Care Units, among other topics. More training programs are scheduled for the coming days.

(Cover: Chinese medical experts share experience online with their counterparts in Mozambique. /West China Hospital)