Sumayyah Hosany (right) and her husband Hamad Abdul Zahir (left). [Photo/WeChat account: chinabluenews]

Sumayyah Hosany, a Mauritian doctor, decided to stay in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province in February when COVID-19 was rapidly spreading throughout China. She did all she could, together with her husband Hamad Abdul Zahir, a Pakistani doctor, to help locals fight the epidemic.

"I'm really proud that I've got the chance to give back," said Sumayyah.

Sumayyah, now 31, came to China at the age of 18. She studied at Wenzhou Medical University for eight years and obtained a Master's degree in clinical medicine. She and her husband now work at the Panhealth Medical Center in Wenzhou.

They volunteered at a highway checkpoint south of Wenzhou during the epidemic, checking travelers' IDs, taking their temperatures, and inquiring about their travel history.

"We really want to do our part, no matter how small it is. I worked with policemen, nurses, doctors from other hospitals, and people at the ground level. I felt a sense of connection and now I feel I'm more part of the culture and more part of the country," said Sumayyah.

"For me, as a Pakistani, since we were born, the only thing we know is the Pakistan-China friendship. Whenever we needed any kind of support, any kind of help, China was always standing with us all the time and still is. All these things give warmth to your heart. So it's an honor, to be honest, " said Hamad.

Sumayyah's parents were worried about her at first and urged her and her husband to return as soon as possible, but eventually began supporting their decision to remain in China

On March 18, Mauritius saw its first three confirmed cases, causing panic among the public and leading to many rumors and fake news.

Sumayyah made short videos on the basics of epidemic prevention and posted them on social media platforms to teach her friends and family back home how to protect themselves, including how to wear face masks and gloves properly.