By Patrick Soko
The 20th Chinese Medical Team this month bids
farewell to Zambia after successfully complementing the Country to steer
health care delivery.
The Chinese Government is resolved to help
Zambia achieves Universal Health Coverage through the provision of Health
personnel from China, training health providers and financing the development
of Health infrastructure.
Dr Hongwei Jiang the team leader for the 20th
Chinese Medical Team shared with oriental Post Newspaper that their experience
in Zambia has been overwhelming as they have been working with local Health
Practitioners since last year in July in saving lives at the Levy Mwanawasa
Hospital, University Teaching (UTH) Livingstone General Hospital among other
Health Institutions.
“Zambia is like spring all the year-round, but
four distinct seasons in the North of earth, it has its own merits. Everything
on earth has a purpose. We have to figure out ours. What we can be, we must
be,” says Dr Jiang.
He says the Zambian people have very receptive
to the Chinese medical team which came in the Country in the year 2018.
“As China Medical Team in Zambia, it was our
duty to safeguard the health of the Zambian people and promote the development
of the friendship between China and Zambia,” he said.
Dr Jiang is happy that members of the Chinese Medical Team have been awesome and professional in their conduct among the
Doctors include Dr Wang and Dr Yean.
“Dr Wang took out many kinds of things out of
ear/nose/throat, including peanuts, corn, lentils, cockroaches, mosquitoes,
crickets, bees, matchstick heads, cotton swabs, stones, earrings, headgear,
diamonds, sticks, feathers, sugar paper, pen cap, batteries, coins and
so forth,” explained Dr Jiang.
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| The Chinese Medical Team |
“Chinese doctor Yuan, very good! There was a
severe auricle deformity disease that affected a 16-year-old girl for many
years. After careful examination, Doctor Yuan gave her surgery treatment, the result was very satisfactory, the department sounded applause, patients and
family members were very grateful,” he narrated.
He says the medical team also encountered a
number of Challenges pointing out that Dr Wang Yonghong, radiologist of 20th
CMT in Livingston Teaching Hospital who wrote many poems praising China-Zambia
friendship and made many friends in Livingston had his Phone, Computer, and
Money was stolen in his room when he was in his dreams.
He explained that Yonghong was disappointed,
but later he said he would rather give them if they were really poor.
Up to date, China has organized 20 Medical
Teams to provide medical service with about 540 Doctors and Medical experts
during the past 40 the Chinese Medical Team has diagnosed and treated 3 Million
Patients.
700 new Technologies have been introduced in
Zambia and health projects have been introduced and implemented here, these
efforts have contributed to the Health sector in Zambia.
With eleven years to go before the deadline for
the post-2030 sustainable development goals, Zambia is still behind towards
attaining the goal number three (3) on Ensuring healthy lives and promote
wellbeing for all at all ages.
Some of the targets are that by 2030, countries
should reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100 000 live
births.
By 2030, member states need to end the
epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and
combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
Despite Zambia falling shot in meeting the
target minister of health Dr Chitalu Chilufya has told 5fm news that they
remain resolute to promote quality health care delivery in the country in view
of meeting the goals.
He hailed the Chinese government for
complementing Zambia towards achieving universal health coverage in the country
saying it will consequently help address SDGs’s
“In supporting our Universal Health Coverage
China has supported the construction of Levy Mwanawasa Hospital its expansion
and development into a medical university,” the Minister explained.
He is happy that the Country will soon in a
position to realize Medical Tourism as it will be in a position to provide
education and treat complicated diseases.
