STORY: Health entrusted, Chinese doctors harvest friendship worldwide
SHOOTING TIME: File
DATELINE: Dec. 4, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:31
LOCATION: Addis Ababa/Port Moresby
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of dispatched Chinese medical personnel 
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Amharic): GEZAHAGN TILAHUN, Resident of Ethiopia
3. various of dispatched Chinese medical personnel
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JOSEPHINE INAPI, Resident of Papua New Guinea
5. various of dispatched Chinese medical personnel
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): DR. JAMES, Urologist at the Port Moresby General Hospital

STORYLINE:

Over the past six decades, China has dispatched over 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across the world, providing medical services to nearly 300 million patients.

This year marks the 60th anniversary since China began to send its first medical team to aid Algeria in 1963.

Since then, countless heartfelt stories about Chinese medical personnel have surfaced.

Ethiopian resident Gezahegn Tilahun endured a "mysterious illness" for over two years, losing 21 kg of weight.

He visited four hospitals without finding the cause of the pain until he was received by Chinese medical teams who have been offering aid at the Armed Forces Comprehensive Specialized Hospital of Ethiopia for nine years.

He was diagnosed with a pancreatic tumor.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Amharic): GEZAHAGN TILAHUN, Resident of Ethiopia 
"It was at a difficult condition that the Chinese medical team, under Dr. Wang (leader of the 9th medical team sent to Ethiopia), visited me and evaluated my condition. Now, the surgery was very successful and I am getting better and better every day. I don't have any problem eating or sleeping.
I don't know how to thank the Chinese doctor. I feel like he recreated me. I owe him my life, next to God, because I know how painful the disease was."

In May, Josephine Inapi's less than one-month-old baby faced severe health issues.

Thanks to the collaboration between the Chinese medical team in Papua New Guinea and local experts from the Port Moresby General Hospital, Josephine Inapi's newborn baby's life was saved.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JOSEPHINE INAPI, Resident of Papua New Guinea
"Fortunately, Dr. Liu and his team noticed the situation and decided to put on ventilation to (my) baby. After that, (my) baby gets better and better."

To express her gratitude, Inapi asked for a Chinese name for her baby to commemorate the Chinese doctors.

Apart from providing treatment for the patients, Chinese medical teams also shared their expertise and technologies with local doctors.

Chinese medical teams have also introduced Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) overseas. In many countries, acupuncture has become a popular choice for patients.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): DR. JAMES, Urologist at the Port Moresby General Hospital
"Especially in the medical field, we appreciate that and we know that this relationship will grow more and more in the future to come. And to the Chinese team, it is a great confidence given to us. For us, we are basically working under the Chinese experts here to increase our confidence in managing our special cases."

Statistics revealed that Chinese medical teams dispatched abroad have trained over 100,000 local medical personnel, significantly enhancing the healthcare expertise in recipient countries.

Six decades on, the determination and spirit of Chinese medical team members have been passed down through generations. At present, Chinese medical teams are still braving various diseases and sowing the seeds of health in 56 countries.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa/Port Moresby.
(XHTV)