4·14 Earthquake Relief Special - 4

　　Yushu Rescue—We’re Doing Our Best, Part 4

　　A Firsthand Diary from the Rescue Team

　　Preface:

　　After the first batch of rescue teams withdrew from the disaster area, the company continued to closely monitor the situation there. On the 22nd, the company learned that while the Yushu disaster zone had ample supplies of bulk commodities, there was still a shortage of items commonly used by the Tibetan ethnic group—such as Tibetan cotton clothing suitable for elderly people, cookware, brick tea, and table salt—as well as Tibetan medicines and topical remedies for sprains and strains. In particular, as relief efforts progressed smoothly, severely injured individuals had already received proper medical care; however, many people suffering from minor sprains and bruises—especially those with pre-existing chronic conditions—had been less likely to seek or pay attention to treatment due to the disruption caused by the disaster and the intense pace of relief work. This has created certain health risks and is also hindering the smooth progress of post-disaster reconstruction efforts. Qizheng Tibetan Medicine has therefore decided to send another rescue team to the disaster zone, carrying Tibetan cotton clothing and other daily necessities, as well as topical medications for injuries and Tibetan medicines, to distribute these supplies and provide medical assistance to lightly injured victims.

　　On the afternoon of the 23rd, the company dispatched 11 employees—Lasang Qudan, Gecuo, Sangcuo, Danba, Chen Congwei, Zhang Yong, Wanma Danzeng, Zhang Yonghong, Gao Ming, Zerang Lam, and Losong Nima—from Linzhi, Lhasa, and Lanzhou in Tibet—to form the Qizheng Tibetan Medicine Guangcai Rescue Team. With the support of the China Guangcai Cause Promotion Association, the team obtained permits to enter the disaster area and, carrying supplies and medicines worth over 650,000 yuan, re-entered the Yushu disaster zone. On the 25th, the team arrived at the disaster area and, together with Tibet Fukan Hospital, set up a medical station to provide integrated Tibetan and Western medical care. Over the past two days, more than 300 local residents have received treatment. The Tibetan medicines brought by the company have been warmly welcomed by those seeking medical help, and the number of people coming to request these medicines continues to grow. Meanwhile, the rescue team has also assigned personnel to distribute supplies in villages and towns. The supplies they carried have been greatly appreciated by the local population. As of today, the second batch of rescue efforts by the Qizheng Tibetan Medicine Rescue Team is still ongoing.

　　Rescue Team Diary:

　　Shortly after 8 a.m. on April 24, the Tibetan team members—who had traveled long distances for twelve hours—and the Lanzhou team members, after assembling in Xining, immediately headed for the Yushu disaster area without taking even a moment to rest. Although road conditions were good and everyone was racing against time to minimize travel duration, they didn't arrive in Yushu until after 9 p.m. By the time the trucks carrying supplies reached Yushu, it was already past midnight.

　　Early on April 25, the nine team members—five from Tibet and four from Lanzhou—immediately joined forces with our colleagues Damba and Losong Nima, who had remained behind in Yushu. Additionally, Ciwang Sangbu, a volunteer student from Tongji University in Shanghai who had traveled alone to the disaster area, proactively joined our rescue team as well. To ensure that relief supplies reached those affected most severely, facing the greatest hardships, and in dire need of assistance, without delaying the overall relief effort, everyone followed the leader’s instructions and divided into three teams: a supply distribution team, a logistics support team, and a medical team. At the same time, it was decided that the medical team would collaborate with Fukan Hospital in Tibet to set up a medical station, where they would provide treatment for the injured in the disaster zone. Meanwhile, another group of team members headed into the affected villages and towns, working together with local village officials to visit residents, conduct thorough investigations and gather information about the extent of the damage, and meticulously record details on the families currently facing the greatest difficulties.

　　On the 25th alone, we not only gained a detailed understanding of the local disaster victims’ needs but also donated essential medicines and supplies to the orphanage and Yushu Prefecture People’s Hospital. Lhasang Qudan from Gombu Manlong Yutuo Tibetan Medical School (a traditional Tibetan medical school funded by corporate donations) and Losang Nima from Lanzhou Qizheng Tibetan Medicine further put their knowledge into practice: the medical team they belonged to saw more than 120 patients that very day, and they were so busy that they didn’t even have time to eat dinner that evening, working late into the night.

　　Thanks to the awareness campaign conducted the previous day, early on April 26, disaster-stricken residents began arriving one after another at the relief supply distribution point set up by the rescue team to collect their aid. Without even taking time to wash their faces or eat, the team members quickly got down to their intense and busy work according to the prearranged plan. By shortly after nine o'clock, the crowd of disaster victims waiting to receive supplies had completely surrounded the distribution point, leaving it packed tight with people. Zhang Yong was simultaneously coordinating and directing operations while maintaining order; Wan Madeng was meticulously recording information and handing out supplies; Danba ran back and forth, contacting and verifying the identities of the affected residents; Gao Ming, Zeren Lam, and Basang Ciren tirelessly shuttled back and forth, transporting supplies; even Zhang Yonghong, who was suffering severely from altitude sickness, ignored his physical discomfort and showed absolutely no sign of fatigue. Each disaster victim who received supplies gave a thumbs-up and said in somewhat halting Chinese, “Thank you! Thank you…” This simple yet heartfelt phrase, filled with gratitude, touched the team members deeply, making them forget all about their own hardship and exhaustion.

　　Another team within the rescue squad—the medical team—was even busier than ever. Since the Yushu region is predominantly inhabited by Tibetans, the local residents were especially eager to see Tibetan medicine and receive Tibetan herbal remedies. It’s safe to say that our rescue squad’s medical team arrived at just the right moment. Lasang Qudan, Losong Nima, Gecuo, and Sangcuo—all of them had jumped out of bed early in the morning, skipping even their morning hygiene routines, and immediately began treating the first batch of patients. Lasang Qudan and Losong Nima leveraged their expertise in Tibetan medicine to focus primarily on diagnosis and treatment; sometimes they also employed targeted traditional external therapies tailored to specific conditions. Meanwhile, Gecuo and Sangcuo worked behind the scenes, preparing and dispensing medications, as well as tending to wound cleaning, applying dressings, and spreading ointments. The stream of patients kept coming without pause, and word-of-mouth spread rapidly once patients returned home, filling both inside and outside the tents with people seeking medical care. The members of the medical team didn’t even have time to leave their stools to use the restroom, let alone take a break to drink water or eat. At noon, they barely managed to grab a couple of quick bites while continuing to see patients at their desks, then immediately plunged back into the hectic pace of treating the sick...

　　Voices from the Front Lines of Disaster Relief:

　　At a little after 8 p.m. on the 26th, Zerang Lam, a member of the rescue team, sent a message: “On the 25th, our medical team worked until after 9 p.m., providing round-the-clock care to more than 120 patients. So far today, we’ve already treated over 170 patients. The tents are still packed with patients coming in for treatment, and we expect even more patients tomorrow—meaning our working hours will be even longer. But none of us feels tired. On behalf of all the Qizheng people, we’re giving it our all to show our love and care for the disaster-stricken area and to contribute to our fellow countrymen.”