In the spring of 2020, the unexpected COVID-19 swept the country. Hearing the epidemic, the Macau University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.) Alumni Association and regional alumni associations actively took action to raise funds, seek resources, and coordinate transportation for critically affected areas such as Wuhan city and Hubei province.
On 23rd January, the Lunar New Year’s Eve, the M.U.S.T. Hangzhou Alumni Association took the lead in donating the first batch of anti-epidemic materials - 20 cases of N95 masks to the Wuhan Union Hospital of China, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
The M.U.S.T. Alumni Association and key members of the regional alumni associations then established the ‘Wuhan, Stay Strong - MUST’ working group. Alumni associations in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and other regions began to raise funds locally, and motivated alumni to actively seek the channels of purchasing standardized medical supplies. Alumni from all over the world have enthusiastically echoed the action. Masks are currently the most urgently needed and scarce material, which were even harder to get in many places in the Mainland China. Therefore, our alumni in various regions have sedulously launched a global procurement, and have successively contacted the mask production and supply channels in countries such as Japan, Britain, Switzerland, Russia, Turkey and Indonesia. The alumni have also extended the category of material procurement required by medical personnel, including medical gloves and protective suits among others, to support the work of the medical staff at the frontline of the epidemic.
On 8th February, the Lateran Festival, the second batch of epidemic prevention supply was sent - 3,000 medical gloves to the medical staff of Xiangyang No. 1 People Hospital in Hubei province, by passing through the green channel. On 10th February, the third batch of 2,000 medical gloves was sent to Hubei. In mid-February, it is estimated that the fourth batch of anti-epidemic supplies - about 20,000 surgical masks will be delivered from Indonesia via Hong Kong to Mainland China, and the other materials are on the way of procurement and transportation. The M.U.S.T. alumni will continue to carry forward the spirit of ‘Scattering over a starry sky, aggregating as a fire’ with a sincere heart, and contribute our effort in fighting this epidemic.
Hubei Xiangyang No. 1 People Hospital receives the donation of anti-epidemic materials from the M.U.S.T. alumni.
The third batch of materials was sent to Hubei on 10th February.
Voices of the M.U.S.T. Alumni Associations:
President Yang Yang of Hangzhou Alumni Association: While the epidemic is raging, we are unable to visit Wuhan in person. We would like to use this donation to pay our respect to the medical staff and Wuhan citizens at the frontline. May everyone be safe and blessed and successfully overcome this fight! Compatriots outside the epidemic area must also take good precautions for themselves, which is the greatest support they can give. At the beginning of the Lunar New Year, the patriotism grants and delivers our fearless love to fight together against the epidemic.
President He Libo of Beijing Alumni Association: Alumni have widely searched for reliable channels of purchasing anti-epidemic materials and finally ordered a batch of products from a mask factory in Indonesia. The masks have now arrived in Hong Kong and are expected to be delivered to Xiangyang on the 12th. The Beijing Alumni Association took the lead to establish the M.U.S.T. Protective Materials Exchange Group, a platform of sharing information of procurement for alumni in different places.
Deputy President and General Secretary Xu Yanlin of Shenzhen Alumni Association: The process of raising materials is not smooth. Every day we are racing against time, with the intertwining of expectations, anxiety, loss, and regret. We are united together to arrange domestic material procurement, logistics, and assistance from overseas Chinese. The masks, protective suits and gloves represent the alumni’ love, which is assembled as like epidemic-resistant armor to the medical staff. We firmly believe that everyone is united with a sincere heart in this world, and as long as we can deliver each other warm caring, the spring has never gone far.
President Xie Xin of Guangzhou Alumni Association: Guangzhou alumni organized the fundraising promptly while sensing the seriousness of the epidemic. We are also inspired by the whole society’s effort and the dedication of Chinese people around the world in fighting against it. Since its outbreak, Xu Hong, the director of the association has been working on the frontline for donations. In the process, both the increasing number of participating alumni and the donations have inspired us time and again. Many alumni have also enthusiastically provided materials and channels for donations. Everyone hopes to do their part and give our best wishes for the frontline medical staff and people in the most affected areas.
President Wang Ying of Shanghai Alumni Association: The unexpected epidemic is raging, making this new year of China extremely uneasy. When difficulties arise on one side, aid comes from everywhere! Alumni in Shanghai immediately organized an anti-epidemic team, seized every second to search for reliable supplies and sent our support to the medical frontline. May our modest efforts add more protection to the white soldiers who are struggling in the frontline of life.
