A file photo of Xia Sisi (1st, L), a frontline medical worker at a Wuhan-based hospital, died of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at her workplace [China Women's News]

Officials of the Hubei Women's Federation on February 24 visited the families of Peng Yinhua and Xia Sisi, both of whom were frontline medical workers at Wuhan-based hospitals and died of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) themselves at their workplaces several days ago.

Peng Yinhua, 29, was a doctor with the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at the First People's Hospital of Jiangxia District. After receiving consent from his pregnant wife Zhong Xin, he chose to postpone their wedding ceremony, which was scheduled to be held in his hometown on February 1, and committed himself to the battle against the COVID-19 in Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus.

Peng was confirmed to be infected with the virus and was sent to Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, one of the designated hospitals in the city for the treatment of virus-infected patients, on January 30. Unfortunately, his condition worsened around February 10 and he passed away 10 days later.

Xia Sisi, 29, was a doctor with the Department of Gastroenterology at Union Jiangbei Hospital. She had persisted in the treatment of virus-related patients at the workplace until she became infected with the virus and was hospitalized on January 19.

During her hospitalization, Xia even gave up the valuable opportunity to be nursed in the ICU (intensive care unit) for better treatment because she was aware of the scarcity of medical resources there.

Xia's condition deteriorated on the night of February 6 and she was later transferred to the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, which is dedicated to patients with serious symptoms. Nevertheless, she lost her life to the contagious disease on February 23.

The visit to their families was entrusted by Shen Yueyue, President of the All-China Women's Federation. Shen has closely followed the development of the COVID-19 epidemic in Hubei, and she stressed the protection of the safety and health of local women and children. She has come up with specific requirements for the women's federations in prevention and control work since the outbreak of the COVID-19 in January.

During the visit to Peng's wife, officials of the Hubei Women's Federation conveyed Shen's regards and greetings to her, asked local medical workers to provide her with prenatal examinations at home, and pledged that they will continually pay attention to her health and that of her future baby.

They also extended Shen's condolences to the bereaved family of Xia, conferred the honorary title of the March 8th Red-banner Holder of Wuhan City upon her, and encouraged her husband to let go of sorrow and take care of their parents as well as their children.

(Source: Hubei Daily and China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)