By Wang Zhenghua (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-30 08:21

Dogelio Padron Rodrigvez (second from left) with the Cuba medical rescue team and Liu Pan (second from right) from the Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital attend to a patient in Chengdu, Sichuan, May 29, 2008. [Asianewsphoto]

CHENGDU: As well as jet lag, Jose Jorge Rodrigvez worried language barriers might hamper his disaster relief efforts.

But after arriving in China, the leader of a Cuban medical relief team found that friendship, teamwork and the devotion shown by both nations' doctors could bridge any divide.

"Our partnership with Chinese medical workers is very pleasant. It's like the friendship between our two nations," he said.

"When one party is in difficulty, the other is duty-bound to help. We will stay as long as our Chinese friends need us."

Under this motto, Rodrigvez is heading a team of 35 medical professionals who also brought disaster relief materials to Chengdu last week.

Working closely with local counterparts at the Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, the team, consisting of professionals working in orthopedics, X-ray, gynecology, surgery and rehabilitation, has so far treated 430 patients.

"We are encouraged by the resolve showed by those injured in the earthquake," Rodrigvez said.

"After a week, we have become accustomed to the new environment while volunteers help with language differences."

At a ward housing those suffering fractures yesterday, Dr Dogelio Padron Rodrigvez was checking patients with Chinese doctors.

After observing an X-ray sheet of a patient, the physician politely inquired about the treatment administered.

"There is some unspoken consensus between the two sides, after some wearing-in in the past week," Jiang Hong, deputy director of international affairs at the hospital, said.

Patients also welcome foreign professionals, especially after Rafael Suri, a pediatrician, has become the most popular among underage patients.

"They are very friendly and passionate, and some would like to hold my hand," the 64-year-old man, said.

"I talked to them and tried to restore their confidence in life."

The medical veteran has also showed his kindness by kissing children's cheeks just as they do in Cuba.

While Cubans must overcome the language barrier, medical workers from Macao who also arrived last week face no such hurdles.

According to Lei Wai Seng, who heads a 20-member team helping at the Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, their teamwork with mainland peers is exciting.

"Some doctors are very exhausted after working long hours since the outbreak of the disaster.

"Now we can help them on fronts such as surgery, ICU department and nursing," he said, adding that Macao could also help restore healthcare systems in hard-hit areas.

"We have much expertise in the sector," Lei said. "We can help set up communities with better medical systems."