Theater of Healing and Hope

Ni Xiaohui overlooks the makeshift hospital he and 29 colleagues from Nantong, Jiangsu province, work at in Wuhan, Hubei province, on Sunday. [Photo by WANG JING/CHINA DAILY]

Makeshift hospital at sports center releases steady flow of cured patients

"Today, 21 newly cured patients have been discharged from our makeshift hospital, "physician Ni Xiaohui told China Daily in the makeshift hospital at the Wuhan Sports Center on Thursday. "So far, a total of 115 patients have been cured and discharged from here."

Since Feb 9, Ni has led a team of 30 medical workers from Nantong in Jiangsu province who have treated 580 patients.

The temporary hospital is divided into six sections, each with 100 beds, he said.

Goggles and face masks leave imprints on Ni's face after a day's work on Thursday. [Photo by WANG JING/CHINA DAILY]

Ni said he and his team have been kept busy at the hospital. Nurses have to perform a variety of tasks, including psychological consultations.

One doctor is responsible for 100 patients and must evaluate them and decide the proper treatments.

Before being discharged from hospital, a patient has to have two negative nucleic acid test results. CT scan images must also show an improvement in their condition.

"Although the work is exhausting, it's all worthwhile if patients can be cured and recover here," Ni said.

Ni (second from left) discusses patients' treatment with colleagues at the hospital on Thursday. [Photo by WANG JING/CHINA DAILY]

Ni uses a mobile phone to discuss a patient's condition with a colleague outside the hospital on Thursday. [Photo by WANG JING/CHINA DAILY]

Ni checks a patient's CT scan images on Thursday. [Photo by WANG JING/CHINA DAILY]

Ni rides a bus to the hotel where he is staying in Wuhan after work on Thursday. [Photo by WANG JING/CHINA DAILY]

A patient shows his gratitude to the medical workers on Thursday. [Photo by WANG JING/CHINA DAILY]