SIRONET Hosted Webinar for Exchanging Views between Chinese and Filipino NGOs on COVID-19 Pandemic

2020-06-01

                                

On May 29, 2020, SIRONET worked with Amity Foundation, the Philippine Acupuncture Academy (PAAI), the Philippine Chinese Youth Federation (KAISA), the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies (PACS) and the Philippine-Chinese Friendship Association to organize a webinar themed “Application of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in Prevention and Control of COVID-19”.

 

As one of the series of activities hosted by SIRONET, the webinar attracted nearly 200 participants from 121 organizations in 15 countries/regions including Japan, Australia, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal and the United States, mostly professionals in health, research and social development work.

 

Dr. Shen Jia, Deputy Director of the Health Management Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, and Dr. Liu Lanying, Director of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Department of Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine made presentations respectively.

 

                                       

In his opening remarks, PACS President Dr. Rommel Banlaoi said the webinar was a timely and relevant one in the way that it would not only help raise awareness and enrich knowledge about acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, but also sustain personal and professional connections amidst lockdowns and quarantines. According to Dr. Banlaoi, we need to be much closer professionally in the hard time so as to overcome all challenges of the pandemic together. This event is significant for strengthening people-to-people contacts not only between China and the Philippines but also with our neighbors in the Silk Road region both in the land and the maritime domain.

                               

In his well-illustrated presentation, Dr. Shen Jia, author of a number of books on traditional Chinese medicine, by combining the theory and case studies elaborated the practical role played by the traditional Chinese medicine and herbs during the COVID-19 outbreak in China as well as the efforts carried out in the post-lockdown period related to the resumption of work.  

                               

Focusing on acupuncture, Dr. Liu Lanying explained in her presentation the different stages of treatment that COVID-19 patients underwent, including the period of medical observation, clinical treatment, recovery and home isolation. Sharing the research and case studies of the medical team sent to Hubei by Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, she displayed the corresponding acupuncture points, techniques and alternative therapies in responding to the various symptoms of pneumonia caused by COVID-19.

 

The presentations were warmly applauded by practitioners and at the same time helped raise the interest of non-practitioners. Under the warm and convivial atmosphere the two experts answered questions and offered advices on how to adapt traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture practice to local climate and environment.

 

After the meeting, there was much positive feedback from the participants.

 

Alberto from the Pastoral Bible Society told about how the traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture had greatly eliminated his backache and stomach which had annoyed him for over 40 years. He was impressed by the rich information provided and the extensive network that was represented in this meeting. He was eager to share the information with his own Chinese doctor.

 

Lhai from the Philippines Claretian Communication Foundation said that he had many friends who had experienced the effectiveness and helpfulness of acupuncture in curing their health problems. He believes this is a very helpful meeting since he learnt that the traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture can be used to treat those infected by COVID-19.