Donations and volunteers flood sites in Wuhan

As two makeshift hospitals are being constructed in Wuhan, Hubei province, in a bid to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, ministry-level government departments, organizations, businesses and people from all walks of life are lending a helping hand to the projects.

Central government subsidies will mainly be used to buy medical equipment to ensure concentrated treatment for infected patients, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

More than 2,000 workers from five design and construction units－the China Institute of Architectural Design and Research, the China Construction Third Bureau, Wuhan Hanyang Municipal Construction Group, Wuhan Construction Group, and Wuhan Airport Development Group－have participated in the Huoshenshan Hospital project, according to China Business Journal.

Meanwhile, Xinhua News Agency has reported that the Wuhan bureau of State Grid Corp, the national electricity provider, has already installed substations and laid cables at the construction site.

A Sinopec Group gas station near the site is providing free services for all vehicles carrying building materials. The company has also provided 16,500 liters of diesel fuel and 1,000 cans of lubricating oil to back up construction work.

Communication companies, including China Telecom Corp, have built 5G base stations to ensure easy contact between the project's engineers and will lay cables for normal digital communications once the temporary hospitals begin operations.

Employees of an environmental technology research company in Beijing have provided services to prevent wastewater seepage during the construction process.

Meanwhile, officials in Pingyu county, Henan province, have sent an impermeable membrane, which had been intended for a landfill project, to the construction site.

On Sunday night, a logistics company in Hubei transported 240 metric tons of steel to the site.

A company in Guangdong province, which produces medical ventilators, donated 144 machines worth 175,000 yuan ($25,000) to Huoshenshan Hospital on Monday.

In addition to construction materials, food and electrical appliances have also been donated by businesses across the country.

China Mengniu Dairy Co said it had provided milk worth 8 million yuan to construction workers and frontline medical employees. Meanwhile, Midea Group, an electrical appliances manufacturer, donated more than 550 air conditioners to the Huoshenshan project and sent 100 employees to install the machines, according to the company's social media account.

On Sunday, the new facilities also received 1,100 televisions and 400 air purifiers from Skyworth Digital Technology Co. The televisions will allow voice calls between doctors and patients, thus lowering the cross-infection risk, according to Beijing News.

Meanwhile, a group of military veterans from across the nation volunteered to help the Huoshenshan Hospital project.

Jiang Jing, a former member of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, journeyed to Wuhan from Zhanjiang, Guangdong province.

"I am responsible for managing warehouse resources, handing out medical supplies including masks and raincoats, and arranging meals for construction workers," he said.

Retired soldier Wang Guohui drove more than 300 kilometers from Shenqiu county, Henan, to bring 4 metric tons of homegrown vegetables to the workers.

"The Wuhan people are united and striving to conquer the enemy. I want to make my own tiny contribution. I only felt at peace when I had brought the vegetables in person," said Wang, when he arrived at 9 pm on Jan 24, Lunar New Year's Eve.

Liu Yingjie, a construction worker from Shanxi province, drove 800 km to the site with some colleagues. After a break of just four hours, the men started work installing the prefabricated wards.

"Given the acute situation, we must finish the project as quickly as possible so patients can be treated," Liu said, adding that his father led a team of construction workers during a renovation project after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan province.

A young man from Wuhan, who only wanted to be known by the alias "Xiao Xiong", was patrolling the Leishenshan Hospital construction site at midnight on Wednesday. Wrapped in a thick blanket against the freezing air, he stamped his feet to keep warm as he checked piles of wire and steel pipes.

"I know what the hospital is for, and everyone in the country knows, too. My family supports my decision. I regard it as volunteer work," he said.

Since Jan 24, Niu Helong has been in charge of transporting food for construction workers at the Leishenshan project. The 41-year-old veteran took part in rescue efforts after the deadly 1998 Yangtze River flood, the 2003 SARS outbreak and the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.

"I remember how my comrades and I bound ourselves together with a rope to fight the Yangtze flood. I have learned from my various rescue experiences that hope is the most powerful force," he said.

Liu Kun contributed to this story.