China marks 60 years of medical service to the wor...

China marks 60 years of medical service to the world

Free heart surgery and cataract services
19th team of specialists leaving
20th team has arrived

VP Constantino Chowenga (in cream) with Chinese Charge d’affairs Cheng Yan and other dignitaries as well as the Chinese Medical Team

Audrey Galawu

Chinese medical experts in the country will once again extend free critical care this year, the Embassy in Harare has said.

“The Embassy will promote free cataract and heart surgery services again this year,” said the Chinese Charge d’affairs Cheng Yan at a ceremony held to mark the 60th Anniversary of the China Medical Team across the globe.

“Since China dispatched its first medical team to Algeria in 1963, a total of 30,000 medical personnel have treated 290 million local patients in 76 countries and regions. Currently, China Medical Teams are working at 115 sites in 56 countries around the world,” said Counselor Cheng.

The event held at the embassy also marked the annual shift of the China Medical Team in Zimbabwe as Team 19 leaves and Team 20 coming in.

As in previous groups, the incoming team of Chinese specialists includes experts in various fields including internal medicine, surgical, gynaecology, paediatrics and acupuncture.

The specialist operate from Parirenyatwa and Mahusekwa Hospital which was built with funding from the Chinese.

Captain of the 19th China Medical Team Dr Zhu Wei said his team has been providing medical services and training to local people in acupuncture and Chinese traditional medicine.

“Over the past year under the leadership of Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe, the National Health Commission of the Republic of China and China medical team worked together in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

“We have established friendly working relations. We have been providing medical services to local people whole-heartedly. We have been working in projects from respiratory and medical care promoting

Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Constantino Chiwenga thanked the 19th China Medical Team with awards and certificates for their dedication when they chose to remain and provide critical care in Zimbabwe during the peak of the Covid-19 outbreak.

“The anniversary of the China Medical Teams is especially significant given milestones and achievements of the selfless services provided by the medical teams to the people of Zimbabwe in the backdrop of the historic Covid-19.

“In 2019, the country was faced with major challenges in the provision of health care as a result of Cyclone Idai that resulted in the loss of life and displacement of people.

“In the early 2020, the country was not spared from the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic thus the arrival of the CMT in June 2019 with a mix of medical specialities that included Geno-surgery, traditional medicine provided the timely medication.

“Thus, the arrival of the medical team in June 2019, provided the timely mitigation,” Dr Chiwenga said.

Zimbabwe is one of the African countries that has a long shared medical history of cooperation with China. The first team arrived in 1985, five years after the establishment of China-Zimbabwe relations.

The first such agreement was signed in 1983, with Hunan province responsible for providing the medical team to Zimbabwe.

Counsellor Chang said the Chinese Embassy hopes that the Government of Zimbabwe will give Team 20 the same support that it has given the others operating in the country.