Pharmaceutical workers take extra shifts to meet surging demand for medicine at a production base in Beijing on Sunday. (GAN NAN / FOR CHINA DAILY)
Special free health kits for COVID-19 prevention and control are being provided to children, seniors and those in need in major cities as the country optimizes its policies to fight the pandemic.
The health kits include medicines, antigen reagents, disinfectants, face masks and thermometers, and are expected to help reduce the number of infections in communities, authorities said.
Zhang Chunhong, a senior doctor at the Jiangxia district health bureau in Wuhan, Hubei province, said the health kits being distributed in Jiangxia mainly include honeysuckle throat syrup, traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen, alcohol wipes, masks and antigen tests.
"Masks and alcohol spray and wipes are used for prevention while Lianhua Qingwen and honeysuckle can help relieve symptoms," he said.
According to Zhang, more than 21,000 health kits have been distributed so far to front-line medical staff, elderly people and those with chronic diseases in the district.
At the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone, health kits have also been distributed to locals in seven subdistricts starting last week.
Yu Meixia, a staff member at Hubei Jiaotou Wuhuang Expressway Operation Management, said she was given a health kit at work last week.
"For our front-line workers, it is necessary to wear masks and gloves at work, and medicines are effective in avoiding becoming infected, so the kit is timely," she said.
"The company asked us to maintain good personal protection every day and immediately report to the company and rest at home when we feel unwell or develop relevant symptoms," said Yu.
A community worker tells an elderly resident about a health kit package in Beijing's Xicheng district on Friday. The district provided free health kits for some 450,000 households as well as 8,000 small shops. (WEI TONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)
In Guangzhou's Baiyun district, more than 10,000 health kits have been distributed to home quarantine residents, elderly people, children, pregnant women and some target groups as of Sunday.
A 60-year-old woman surnamed He in the district said she was surprised and glad to receive the special health kit.
"I don't know how to buy medicines online, and it's difficult for me to go downstairs to the pharmacy to buy medicine," said He, who has mobility issues.
Huang Chenyi, a housewife in Baiyun district, said the health kit is timely for the elderly people and those in need.
"It reflects the government's great concern for the elderly while optimizing pandemic prevention and control measures," she said.
In Beijing, Xicheng district will distribute health kits to about 450,000 households and about 8,000 stores in batches, with priority given to the elderly and families in need, said Zhai Degang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Xicheng District Party Committee.
As of Monday, more than 112,000 households had received the kits, said Zhai, who is also head of the publicity department and spokesman of Xicheng district.
"We are now actively introducing Chinese patented medicines recommended by the State to make up for those that are in short supply," he added.
The cities of Nanjing and Changzhou in Jiangsu province, Fuzhou in Fujian province and Hefei in Anhui province have also started distributing similar health kits, according to local media.
Contact the writers at zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn