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Xinjiang hospital offers psychological counseling

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-11 22:07

URUMQI: Li Yuzhen felt relieved after a second doctor reassured her that she was not infected after a syringe needle attack in Urumqi, capital of China's far western Xinjiang region.

Another doctor has told her she has nothing to worry about after checking her syringe mark last week, Li said.

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"But the mark became red and swollen only a couple of days later and I was wondering if I had contracted any virus," she told He Hong, head of the skin disease department of Urumqi General Hospital affiliated to Lanzhou Military Region.

He conducted a careful check-up and later made an example to show her the symptom was not a result of infection but of finger scratches.

"I can at last have a sound sleep," said Li, who breathed a sigh of relief after the doctor's counseling.

Li said she could not sleep for days for fears of virus infections even after the assurance from the first doctor.

Li is not alone. Many other victims are also deeply worried about possible hidden infections.

Alimuhan, a woman of the Kazak ethnic minority group, also went to the military hospital for counseling amid lingering fear of HIV infection.

She was relieved after a doctor told her the possibility of HIV infection could be ruled out.

"HIV infections have prerequisites: first the needle is contaminated with HIV virus; second the stabbing is deep," Wang Huilin, a skin doctor told her.

The fears did not vanish easily even after medical experts earlier ruled out the possibility that radioactive substances, anthrax or toxic chemicals were used in recent needle attacks.

By last Friday, local authorities had confirmed 531 victims of hypodermic syringe stabbings, 171 of whom showed obvious syringe marks. The majority of the victims were of the Han ethnic group.

Tens of thousands of angry and panic residents in Urumqi took to the streets last week, protesting against needle attacks and demanding security guarantees.

The Urumqi General Hospital also arranged for three psychological experts and opened four counseling hotlines to help ease victims' fears and panic.

In addition, the hospital handed out local newspapers disclosing the sabotages of the needle attackers and brochures on infectious diseases prevention.

"We seek to make the residents know well the vicious intentions of the 'three forces' (of extremism, separatism and terrorism) and learn basic knowledge on infectious diseases to ease panic and anxiety as soon as possible," said Shen Kaijin, head of the hospital's emergency center.