STORY: Safeguarding Lives Beyond Borders
DATELINE: Aug. 19, 2023
LENGTH: 00:06:36
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Chinese medical aid teams
2. Voice of Remy, Patient, Central African Republic
3. Voice of Benjamin Ngakono, Director of China-Congo Friendship Hospital
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LIU XIAODONG, Member of the 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Republic of the Congo
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): YANG ZHIQIANG, Member of the 29th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Republic of the Congo
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): FU WENYUAN, Head of the 29th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Republic of the Congo
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): FU WENYUAN, Head of the 29th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Republic of the Congo
8. SOUNDBITE 5 (French): DR. JEAN EDOUARD MABOUNGOU, Head of the Anesthesia Department, China-Congo Friendship Hospital
9. SOUNDBITE 6 (French): DR. BENJAMIN NGAKONO, Director of the China-Congo Friendship Hospital
10. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): MAO QING, Chief expert of Medical Contingent of the Chinese People's Liberation Army to Liberia
11. SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): CHEN JING, Nurse of Chinese anti-Ebola medical team to Liberia
12. SOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): CHEN JING, Nurse of Chinese anti-Ebola medical team to Liberia
13. SOUNDBITE 10 (Chinese): MAO QING, Chief expert of Medical Contingent of the Chinese People's Liberation Army to Liberia
14. SOUNDBITE 11 (English): CHARLES ONUNAIJU, Director of Center for China Studies in Nigeria
15. SOUNDBITE 12 (Chinese): WANG BAOXIANG, Head of the 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Central African Republic
16. SOUNDBITE 13 (Chinese): HAO YABO, Member of the 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Central African Republic
17. SOUNDBITE 14 (French): JEAN CHRYSOSTOME KETTE, Director of the Friendship Hospital in Bangui
18. SOUNDBITE 15 (French): MARGUERITE NGOUAMATOU, Medical assistant at the Friendship Hospital in Bangui
19. SOUNDBITE 16 (French): PIERRE SOMSE, Minister of public health and population in the Central African Republic

STORYLINE:

Voice of Remy, Patient, Central African Republic
"I've always been telling my friends and acquaintances that Chinese doctors are highly skilled in medicine."

Voice of Benjamin Ngakono, Director of China-Congo Friendship Hospital
"I'd like to extend heartfelt appreciation to the Chinese government and President Xi Jinping for their contributions to our hospital."

Since China dispatched its first medical aid team abroad 60 years ago, Chinese doctors have been working in various continents, helping save lives, treat illnesses, and forge friendships.
Their primary focus, is Africa.

Radiologist Liu Xiaodong from Tianjin was a member of the 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Republic of the Congo, in 2017.
Liu was inspired by his father, who had served in China's first medical aid team to Brazzaville 50 years earlier.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LIU XIAODONG, Member of the 24th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Republic of the Congo
"The working condition was quite challenging. The local communities were in great need of medical personnel like us."

Despite the difficulties, the Chinese doctors have persevered in their efforts, offering much-needed medical aid and services to local people.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): YANG ZHIQIANG, Member of the 29th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Republic of the Congo
"Our work here is quite challenging, because the medical conditions here are poor. Power outages can occur unexpectedly during surgeries, and we would rely on the flashlights from our mobile phones for illumination, and completed the surgeries under such conditions."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): FU WENYUAN, Head of the 29th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Republic of the Congo
"There's a scarcity of essential surgical equipment. But we overcame various challenges and completed the surgery successfully. Seeing the patient's recovery, I realized the profound significance behind our work in this place."

In March 2013, during a visit to Brazzaville, Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed a Chinese medical team at the newly-built China-Congo Friendship Hospital, which he and his Congolese counterpart had just inaugurated.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): FU WENYUAN, Head of the 29th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Republic of the Congo
"Ten years ago, it was here that President Xi mentioned the spirit of the Chinese medical team, that is, fearing no hardships, willingness to dedicate, saving lives and boundless humanitarian spirit."

SOUNDBITE 5 (French): DR. JEAN EDOUARD MABOUNGOU, Head of the Anesthesia Department, China-Congo Friendship Hospital
"The arrival of Chinese doctors has been immensely beneficial to us.
I am also very grateful to President Xi for his care and love for us. I'm very honored."

SOUNDBITE 6 (French): DR. BENJAMIN NGAKONO, Director of the China-Congo Friendship Hospital
"The partnership fills us with pride. I'd like to extend heartfelt appreciation to the Chinese government and President Xi for their contributions to our hospital."

In 2014, an Ebola epidemic broke out in West Africa, claiming thousands of lives within months.
The most significant impact was felt in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
After the outbreak, China carried out by then its largest aid program in the health area.

SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): MAO QING, Chief expert of Medical Contingent of the Chinese People's Liberation Army to Liberia
"It was impossible to deny the fear that gripped us at that time. But as doctors, and as we were representatives of China, we had no hesitation in confronting the situation bravely."

SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): CHEN JING, Nurse of Chinese anti-Ebola medical team to Liberia
"There was no air conditioning in the patients' wards, and the temperatures inside the wards were very high. Once, quite unexpectedly, a patient's condition deteriorated, and experienced projectile vomiting. The vomit splashed onto one of my colleagues. Under that situation, my colleague gave no thought to his own safety (and kept working). When my colleague finally came out from the ward, as soon as he removed the last layer of protective gear, he collapsed onto the ground. He was utterly exhausted."

In late December 2014, President Xi sent a letter offering New Year greetings to Chinese medical staff fighting Ebola in Africa.

SOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): CHEN JING, Nurse of Chinese anti-Ebola medical team to Liberia
"One good turn deserves another. During our fight against Ebola, nationality, ethnicity, and race no longer mattered."

SOUNDBITE 10 (Chinese): MAO QING, Chief expert of Medical Contingent of the Chinese People's Liberation Army to Liberia
"When the medical team was leaving, the local people couldn't help sobbing, running alongside our vehicle, and bidding us farewell. I remember one person who wrote heartfelt messages of gratitude on a piece of foam board, and held it tightly while running alongside our bus."

SOUNDBITE 11 (English): CHARLES ONUNAIJU, Director of Center for China Studies in Nigeria
"We've had these personnel reaching out to the remotest corner of the continent and immersing themselves profoundly in supporting the medical requirement of these people. They all shared weal and woe with the African people."

Over the past decades, Chinese medical aid teams have not only delivered medical treatment but also have employed innovative methods to improve the capabilities of local medical workers.
In the Central African Republic, the current 19th Chinese medical team often organizes academic exchanges and public events promoting healthy lifestyles.

SOUNDBITE 12 (Chinese): WANG BAOXIANG, Head of the 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Central African Republic
"Our medical team has launched academic exchanges, such as specialized lectures on monkeypox prevention and medication safety. Local colleagues found these lectures to be highly informative."

SOUNDBITE 13 (Chinese): HAO YABO, Member of the 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Central African Republic
"I mainly train the local medical workers through clinical guidance. Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. This is the fundamental way we can help them."

What they have left, is a "medical team" that cannot be taken away.

SOUNDBITE 14 (French): JEAN CHRYSOSTOME KETTE, Director of the Friendship Hospital in Bangui
"Over time, African medical personnel have acquired valuable professional knowledge and expertise from the Chinese medical team through long-term learning."

SOUNDBITE 15 (French): MARGUERITE NGOUAMATOU, Medical assistant at the Friendship Hospital in Bangui
"I'm so thankful to all the Chinese doctors who have come to the Central African Republic to help us. Even if one day you will leave, we will not be left alone. We will use the medical skills we learned from the Chinese doctors to treat more patients."

In February this year, President Xi replied to a letter from the 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Central African Republic.
Xi called on the medical personnel to use their medical proficiency and ethics to benefit local people, and to better present China to the world through their concrete actions, thus making greater contributions to the building of a global community of health for all.

SOUNDBITE 16 (French): PIERRE SOMSE, Minister of public health and population in the Central African Republic
"I very much appreciate President Xi Jinping's letter on the dimension of love, compassion and service. I believe that the Chinese team not only brings expertise but also exemplifies the right behavior, attitude, and approach to serving."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)