STORY: Chinese medical teams bring life-changing care to Africa
SHOOTING TIME: File footage
DATELINE: Dec. 31, 2023
LENGTH: 0:03:17
LOCATION: CHANGSHA, Windhoek, Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of photos of China's first medical team to Algeria (Source: National Health Commission of China)
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHANG YOUMING, Member of China's first medical aid team to Africa
3. various of Chinese doctors and patients in Namibia
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI BANGWEI, Head of the Chinese medical team in Namibia
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SALOMO ANGULA, Patient
6. various of the Chinese-invested Addis Ababa Silk Road General Hospital in Ethiopia
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ZHANG QIANG, Doctor at Addis Ababa Silk Road General Hospital
8. SOUNDBITE 5 (Amharic): ETENESH SISAY, Patient
9. various of Chinese doctors doing surgeries in Africa
10. various of photos of Chinese doctors in Africa

STORYLINE:

Zhang Youming, a Chinese gynecologist, once worked in Algeria and helped bring newborns into the world.

She was then on the first medical team China sent to the African country in 1963.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHANG YOUMING, Member of China's first medical aid team to Africa
"Our country hadn't sent a medical team overseas prior to that. We were the first such medical team. When we were in Algeria, we worked during the day and studied at night. One of the patients had difficulty giving birth, as the baby was too large. So I came to her assistance, and she delivered the baby safely. After that, she told me that she wanted to name the baby 'Chinese.'"

Since then, successive Chinese medical personnel have been working in African countries, providing much-needed medical aid and services.

In Namibia, Chinese medical teams have provided traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment to local people.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI BANGWEI, Head of the Chinese medical team in Namibia
"After more than 20 years of joint efforts of Chinese medical workers, acupuncture and massage treatment has taken root in Namibia. If there is a demand for traditional Chinese medicine, we will provide corresponding medical services."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SALOMO ANGULA, Patient
"I got the treatment of Chinese acupuncture. It is a nice treatment. It helps me very well. I recommend people try it. It helps. I am feeling better."

China has also partnered with local hospitals to establish specialty medical centers and address technical gaps.

At the Chinese-invested Addis Ababa Silk Road General Hospital in Ethiopia, a team of specialized medical professionals has recently conducted Africa's first advanced vein care and treatment.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ZHANG QIANG, Doctor at Addis Ababa Silk Road General Hospital
"We have a very new technology. That changed the total story of the treatment. Usually, the treatment for varicose veins, the patient has to stay in the hospital for three to seven days after the procedure, but now in only maybe one hour, the patient can walk out of the operating room right away and go back to work, to their normal daily life. That is a big change because of the cutting-edge technology."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Amharic): ETENESH SISAY, Patient
"I rarely go to medical facilities as it is very difficult for me to afford the ever-growing cost. Instead, most of the time I rely on traditional treatment, which is less costly but not as effective as the one available at private health facilities. Thanks to this hospital, I am now receiving medical examinations and treatment free of charge. This is very important for us as it would have been very difficult for us to access such excellent treatment elsewhere."

Since the 1960s, China has dispatched about 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across five continents, primarily in Africa.

The Chinese medical teams have saved countless lives, enhanced medical expertise in African nations and trained over 100,000 healthcare professionals, producing lasting outcomes.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Changsha, Windhoek, Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)