Over 800 Chinese medical workers aid Zanzibar in six decades where the focus is shifted from short term relief to sharing expertise and introducing modern treatment methods.
Since 1964, when Jiangsu Province in eastern China first sent its medical team to Zanzibar, Tanzania, 847 medical professionals have visited in 34 different groups, providing care to approximately 8.3 million local residents, according to the Jiangsu Commission of Health on Wednesday.
Over the past six decades, Jiangsu’s medical teams have carried out more than 240,000 surgeries and treated around 40,000 critically ill patients in Zanzibar. The province has also contributed medical equipment, including MRI, CT, and X-ray machines, to Zanzibar’s Mnazi Mmoja Hospital.
Since 2009, Jiangsu has aided Zanzibar in establishing eight specialized medical centers for laparoscopic surgery, cleft lip and palate operations, gastrointestinal endoscopy, and maternal and child health, implementing advanced and effective medical techniques.
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women of reproductive age in Zanzibar. Since 2018, Jiangsu has launched a cervical cancer screening program, sending seven teams to conduct on-site screenings. This program aims to complete 32,000 screenings by the end of the year.
Jiangsu’s medical teams and experts have played a leading role in tackling regional diseases and public health emergencies. From 2016 to 2019, the Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases led a project to control and eliminate schistosomiasis in Zanzibar, reducing its infection rate from 8.92% to 0.64% in the target area.
In August, Zanzibar authorities commended China’s aid program for its success in eradicating schistosomiasis in the islands.
The focus of the Chinese medical teams in Zanzibar has shifted from providing short-term relief to sharing expertise and introducing modern treatment methods. They now train local doctors in clinical diagnosis, patient examination, and patient interaction.
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