Jointly Building a Health Community between China and Africa (China Africa Cooperation in the New Era) Cooperation | Health | Community

The headquarters building of the African Disease Prevention and Control Center for China's aid to the African Union.

Photo by Zhang Yunlong

Recently, doctors from the 18th batch of Chinese medical teams assisting Chad conducted health checks on local children.

Photo by Wang Lini

Health cooperation is an important component of China Africa friendly cooperation. In 1963, China officially dispatched medical aid teams to Algeria, marking the beginning of medical aid to Africa. For the past 60 years, generation after generation of Chinese medical aid team members to Africa have used their wisdom, sweat, and even their lives to compose touching stories of boundless love, constantly consolidating the bridge of friendship between China and Africa. China actively practices the concept of putting people first and life first, helps African countries respond to epidemics, builds public health systems, and promotes the construction of a China Africa health community through practical actions.

The torch is passed down, and the medical aid to Africa has been widely praised

"As soon as this number is dialed, Chinese doctors will arrive. This is our 'peace of mind'. In the eyes of Dr. Selo from Lesotho Motebon Hospital, Sheng Jian, a member of the 16th batch of Chinese medical team aid to Lesotho, is a trustworthy health guardian.";

"Malaria and typhoid fever are common diseases here. Thank you to the Chinese doctors for sending the medicine." "The patient diagnosis and treatment of the Chinese doctors are touching." During the 18th batch of free medical consultations by the Chinese aid team to Chad, local villagers praised them one after another;

"The Chinese side's assistance to benefit the local people is a noble action." Togo Pele Province Governor Blaiusi expressed respect for the 25th batch of Chinese medical teams assisting Togo;

.

Dispatching medical teams to African countries is one of the longest running, most involved, and most effective cooperation projects between China and Africa. David Monyae, director of the Africa China Research Center at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, exclaimed that since China's aid to Africa medical team, the cooperation in health and wellness between Africa and China has gone through 60 years. "This is a 60 year journey of sailing together through storms and hardships, and African people will not forget the deep friendship of Chinese friends."

From daily visits to free clinics, from medical training to the establishment of key specialties, batches of Chinese medical team members have been working tirelessly to benefit the local people with kindness and skill, making important contributions to promoting the construction of a Sino African health community.

Tanzania's Zanzibar President Mwini stated that the minimally invasive treatment technology brought by the Chinese medical team has promoted the progress of Zanzibar's medical level. The medical team actively conducts free consultations and patrols at hospitals, community health centers, and large-scale gatherings in the Zanzibar area, benefiting the general public.

"For the past 60 years, China's contribution to Uganda and even the whole of Africa has been evident, including cooperation in the field of healthcare." An article published on the website of Uganda's "New Scenery News" stated that thousands of Ugandan people have benefited from the services provided by the Chinese medical team. "This is a concrete action to build an African China community with a shared future.".

"The Chinese team provides diversified medical services, helps train a large number of local talents, conducts joint research with local personnel, and contributes to improving the capacity building and medical and health level of African countries." Eritrean journalist Fikreyesus wrote in local media that the Chinese medical team has been widely welcomed and praised for relieving people's pain.

Watch and help each other, China and Africa work together to build a health defense line

In the southern suburbs of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, new modern buildings stand on the once barren slopes. This is the headquarters project of the African Union Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which was completed in January this year. The establishment of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention is of great significance for improving the speed of disease prevention, monitoring, and emergency response to epidemics in Africa.

"The completion of the project means that non traditional Chinese medicine healthcare cooperation has entered a new stage, and we look forward to more cooperation between the two sides in the field of public health to further promote the development of health in Africa," said Hanfrey Mosi, Director of the China Research Center at Dar es Salaam University in Tanzania.

For many years, China has assisted multiple African countries in the prevention and control of malaria, schistosomiasis, yellow fever, and other diseases, and has jointly implemented public health cooperation projects with countries and international organizations such as Tanzania and Comoros. In 2014, when West African countries were fighting against Ebola, China sent thousands of clinical and public health experts on a retrograde expedition. After the COVID-19, China sent anti epidemic medical expert teams or short-term anti epidemic medical teams to 17 African countries, and guided foreign medical teams stationed in more than 40 African countries for a long time to jointly build a barrier to protect the lives and health of local people.

"China's medical cooperation with Africa is the most sustainable, timely, and comprehensive," said Paul Flimpong, Executive Director of the African China Policy Advisory Center, a think tank in Ghana. In addition to dispatching medical teams to aid Africa, many Chinese experts also assist African colleagues in medical treatment through video conferences, online consultations, and other means. During the COVID-19 epidemic, China's scientific and effective anti epidemic experience sharing played an important role in African countries' fight against the epidemic.

China has actively carried out vaccine cooperation with African countries to improve the accessibility and affordability of COVID-19 vaccine in African countries through free supply, joint production and other ways. South African congressman Ziliz Munia said, "Vaccine self-sufficiency is the cornerstone of public health in Africa, and Chinese friends have been helping Africa achieve this goal."

Health cooperation has been continuously included in the "Ten Cooperation Plans," "Eight Actions," and "Nine Projects" under the framework of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation. In 2021, at the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation, China announced the provision of 1 billion doses of vaccines to the African side and will assist in implementing 10 medical and health projects for African countries. It will also dispatch 1500 medical team members and public health experts to Africa, injecting strong confidence and momentum into China Africa's health cooperation.

"From the promise that COVID-19 vaccine will be the first to benefit African countries after its research and development is completed and put into use, to the successful completion of the headquarters of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the facts have proved that China values its promise again and again. I believe that 'building a health community in Africa and China' is not a slogan." said Charles Onunayizhu, director of the Nigeria China Research Center.

The Vice Chairman of the African Union Commission, Monica Ensanzabaganva, also stated that cooperation in non traditional Chinese medicine has achieved remarkable results, which is a vivid and vivid example of China's commitment to words and actions.

Teaching people to fish and promoting the construction of Africa's healthcare system

"After the establishment of the cervical disease screening center, I was fortunate enough to start learning from Chinese doctors. I didn't expect to be able to independently complete this screening work today." Not long ago, Jacqueline Batti, a gynecologist and obstetrician from Juba Teaching Hospital in South Sudan, excitedly shared her experience. In August 2020, the first cervical disease screening center in South Sudan, built with China's assistance, was put into use, creating a new platform for safeguarding the health of local women.

From teaching people how to fish to teaching people how to fish, China focuses on helping African countries strengthen their specialized medical construction. As of 2021, China has assisted 18 African countries in establishing 20 specialized centers, covering specialties such as cardiology, critical care medicine, trauma, and laparoscopy. It has established corresponding cooperation mechanisms with 45 African hospitals in 40 African countries and trained 20000 medical talents in various fields. With the joint efforts of China and Africa, the technical level of medical personnel in Africa continues to improve, and the medical and health system is becoming increasingly perfect.

The Niger Comprehensive Demonstration Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in Niger and even in West Africa, and is also an important base for cooperation in the medical and health fields between China and Nepal. "Through targeted cooperation, the Chinese side has helped us establish the Niger Cardiology and Neurology Center, donated advanced medical equipment, drugs, and consumables, and improved our clinical diagnosis and treatment capabilities through continuous technical training," said Sadu Rabo, director of the Cardiology Department at the hospital

In Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, the China Zimbabwe acupuncture and moxibustion Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine carried out theoretical and practical training of traditional Chinese medicine to help train local acupuncture and moxibustion talents. "It's a good exercise to participate in acupuncture and moxibustion training courses and experience practical operation." Adam Muchenger, a nurse in the local public hospital, said that the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion diagnosis and treatment is well known in Zimbabwe, and he hopes to become a acupuncture and moxibustion doctor in the future.

"The hospital has a high level of teaching and rich teaching content, which has benefited us greatly in both clinical and laboratory learning." Dr. Delam, Chairman of the Medical Committee and Director of the Laboratory of Mali Hospital, participated in the advanced training of assisted reproductive clinical technology at Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital. He stated that he is a witness and witness to the medical and health cooperation between Malaysia and China. The Malaysian side cherishes such cooperation opportunities and will work together with the Chinese side to complete the construction project of the corresponding hospital cooperation mechanism.

At the beginning of last year, the construction project of the Neuromedicine Center of the China Guinea Friendship Hospital, which lasted for nearly three years, was completed in Conakry, Guinea. The Chinese side also held training courses to cultivate multiple neuromedicine professionals in the local area; In February this year, the Liberia project of the China Africa counterpart hospital cooperation mechanism was launched, and both sides will carry out cooperation projects in the construction of cardiology; Currently, China and Zimbabwe's respiratory and critical care medical specialty cooperation projects are also being carried out in an orderly manner... African countries generally have high hopes and confidence in deepening African China health cooperation.

Eritrean Health Minister Amina Nur Hussein stated that the health cooperation between Eritrea and China has been effective, ensuring the health and well-being of the people and promoting the capacity building of the Eritrean health system. The Eritrean side is willing to continue to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side to better benefit the people. David Monyae stated that under the guidance of the 2035 Vision for China Africa Cooperation, the health project has become another model for deepening cooperation between Africa and China, and will promote the construction of an African China health community to achieve greater results.