Over the past 60 years, China's medical aid team to Afghanistan has treated over 27 million patients and worked as doctors in China
Medical aid to foreign countries is an important part of China's foreign aid work. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the dispatch of China's medical aid teams to foreign countries. Since sending its first medical team to Algeria in 1963, China's foreign aid medical team has treated nearly 300 million patients. Over the past 60 years, China's medical team has traveled throughout developing countries and regions such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The vivid stories of foreign aid medical teams reflect the spirit of the Chinese medical team, which is "fearless of hardship, willing to contribute, saving lives and helping the wounded, and loving the boundless.". Nowadays, foreign medical aid has entered a new stage of development cooperation, shifting from "transfusion based" aid to sustainable "hematopoietic based" aid, gradually forming a comprehensive and three-dimensional pattern based on medical teams, driven by clinical medicine and public health, innovative projects, medical supplies, capacity building, personnel and technology exchange.
China's Aid to Algeria Medical Team: Overcoming Sixty Years of Watching and Helping Each Other
In April 1963, the Chinese government actively responded to the urgent call of the Algerian government and dispatched the first batch of medical teams to aid Algeria. For the past 60 years, Chinese medical aid team members have been selfless and dedicated, fighting on the front line of treating and saving lives. Chinese doctors have won high praise from the local people for their serious and diligent attitude and superb medical skills.
In the Makuham Hospital in the Aindifra Province of northern Algeria, there is a constant stream of local patients seeking medical treatment from Chinese doctors. Due to the lack of early screening among local residents, there are many cases of blindness caused by cataract patients. Guo Qing, an ophthalmologist from the medical team, has been working here for nearly two years. In addition to being responsible for the outpatient work of this hospital's ophthalmology department, he also shoulders heavy surgical tasks.
Dr. Guo Qing, an ophthalmologist from the 27th batch of Chinese medical teams assisting Algeria, said: "I have done a maximum of 89 units per month, and so far I have done more than 570 units.".
As a member of the Chinese medical team assisting Algeria, Dr. Guo Qing stated that even under great work pressure, it can be transformed into a continuous source of motivation for medical team members. What moves them the most is the heartfelt gratitude of Algerian patients to Chinese doctors, as well as the recognition and respect of local hospitals for medical team members.
Algerian patient Gilali: With the help of Chinese doctors, I was able to see the light again, allowing me to see the whole world again, including trees, birds, flowers, everything thanks to the Chinese medical team. They have extensive experience in treating eye diseases, and I am very grateful to them.
Mustafa, Director of Makuham Hospital in Aindifra Province: The Chinese medical team has provided us with excellent service and assistance. When we need support, it is China that has proactively extended a helping hand to us. For us, this has always been an honor and pride, because friendly China stands with Algeria, and we cherish this very much.
Dr. Zhang Youming, who is 90 years old this year, was once a member of China's first medical team to support Afghanistan. At that time, he was a gynecologist. At the end of 1963, Zhang Youming admitted a mother with a dangerous placenta previa, and she successfully performed surgery on the mother, ensuring the safe birth of the child. To express gratitude to the Chinese doctor, the mother named her child "Xinuhua", which means "Chinese".
Zhang Youming, a member of the first Chinese medical team to aid Algeria, said: "There are many patients like this, so I sent them to the operating room. The nurses in the operating room helped me, and for those who need surgery, she helped me as an assistant. This way, we can gradually solve the problem.". Also, let's go to her house. Their whole family is sitting with me taking photos. She said she wants this photo and she wants it as a souvenir.
During his two and a half years working in Algeria, Dr. Zhang Youming successfully performed thousands of surgeries with his superb skills. When leaving Saida, many patients held her hand reluctantly, calling her the "most trusted person".
Since 1963, China has dispatched 27 batches of medical teams and 3522 medical staff to Afghanistan, treating over 27 million patients and delivering over 2.07 million newborns, setting a monument to the friendship between China and Afghanistan.
