STORY: Malawi in 15th anniversary celebration of the Chinese medical team
DATELINE: Sept. 12, 2023
LENGTH: 0:02:59
LOCATION: Lilongwe
CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the medical team at the anniversary
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BESTONE CHISAMILE, Malawi Secretary for Health
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): WANG HAO, Charge d'affaires of Chinese Embassy in Malawi
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ZHU JINWEN, Member of Chinese Medical Team to Malawi

STORYLINE:

Along with Malawi government officials, the 10th batch of the Chinese medical team gathered at the Chinese embassy in Lilongwe Friday to mark the 60th anniversary of sending the first China Medical Team abroad as well as the 15th anniversary of the Chinese Medical Team to Malawi.

The medical and health field is one of the key areas of cooperation between the two countries.

So far, China has dispatched 10 batches of medical teams to Malawi, with a total of 170 people, treating more than 200,000 patients.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BESTONE CHISAMILE, Malawi Secretary for Health
"Overall, the Chinese medical teams have made remarkable contributions through their expertise, support, donations, teaching and active involvement in the hospitals. Their contributions have had a positive impact on strengthening international collaborations. As the Malawi government, we commit to continue providing equipment, medicines and supplies needed for the teams to fulfill their duties and make all necessary arrangements to ensure their comfortable stay in Malawi."

In 2008, the Chinese government deployed a team of 19 specialist doctors to Malawi soon after the two countries established diplomatic relations.

The various batches of Chinese Medical Teams comprising physicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, gynecologists, obstetricians and radiologists are deployed to Mzuzu Central Hospital in north Malawi and Kamuzu Central Hospital in the capital city, Lilongwe.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): WANG HAO, Charge d'affaires of Chinese Embassy in Malawi
"Through training, experience sharing and other methods, China has strived to leave a medical team that cannot be taken away. I am very happy to see that people from all walks of life in Malawi have praised Chinese doctors. China Medical Team has become an excellent envoy and shining sign of friendship between our two nations. Besides, the deepening medical and health cooperation between our two countries has become richer in content and yielded fruitful results."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ZHU JINWEN, Member of Chinese Medical Team to Malawi
"This kind of program is quite important because before we came, the people here in Malawi were short of specialists. Not only spine specialists, but also other illnesses like general surgeons and internal physicians. So, when we came here, we would like to help. So, that's our (role)."

The Chinese government in April 1963 dispatched the first medical team to Algeria.

Since then, China has dispatched a total of 30,000 doctors to 76 countries and regions in Africa, Asia, America, Europe and Oceania, diagnosing and treating 290 million patients.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lilongwe.
(XHTV)