STORY: Chinese medical team provides free cataract surgeries in Ethiopia
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 3, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 5, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:15
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the launching ceremony
2. various photos of Chinese medical team performing operations
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CHEN HAI, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MEKDES DABA, Ethiopian Minister of Health
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Amharic): MOHAMMOD HASSEN, Ethiopian patient
5. various photos of treated Ethiopian patients

STORYLINE:

On Friday, a Chinese medical team officially launched a free cataract surgery campaign at Tirunesh Beijing Hospital in Ethiopia's capital of Addis Ababa.

The China-Ethiopia Brightness Journey campaign is being conducted by a Chinese medical team from Tianjin Eye Hospital. This team of 10 senior ophthalmologists and nurses is set to conduct cataract surgeries for more than 500 eye patients, 80 of whom had already had successful operations as of Friday.

Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai said at the campaign launch event that Tianjin Eye Hospital has sent its top expert team as part of a Chinese government plan. They are using advanced medical equipment and technology to bring light and hope back to Ethiopian patients.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CHEN HAI, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia
"The 'Bright Journey' project shows vividly our all-weather strategic partnership and traditional friendship. This project will help hundreds of Ethiopian cataract patients regain their sight."

The team donated medical equipment to the hospital, which is also known as the Ethiopia-China Friendship Hospital. Here, Chinese and Ethiopian doctors share experiences and technical knowledge as they work shoulder-to-shoulder to treat patients.

Ethiopian Minister of Health Mekdes Daba said that, by addressing not only visual impairment but also community needs in general, the China-Ethiopia Brightness Journey has a meaningful role in advancing the shared vision of China and Ethiopia.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MEKDES DABA, Ethiopian Minister of Health
"We really deeply value this project and the support we are getting, and we view it as one of the meaningful partnerships that is deep-rooted in shared knowledge and shared partnership and shared vision."

Tianjin Eye Hospital president Zhang Wei, who is also leader of the Chinese medical team, said that the campaign is not only a continuation of China-Ethiopia friendship but also a new milestone.

"We are willing to dedicate our surgical skills to the Ethiopian people and jointly write a beautiful chapter of the China-Ethiopia friendship," Zhang said. "I hope this project will bring light to the patients in Ethiopia and inject new vitality and good expectations into the development of China-Ethiopia friendship."

"Now, I can see as I did during my younger age," Mohammod Hassen told Xinhua in an interview. "I am very grateful to those who gave my sight back," the 65-year-old man said after receiving surgery for his left eye on Thursday after 10 years of visual impairment.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Amharic): MOHAMMOD HASSEN, Ethiopian patient
"I went through the surgery yesterday and, when the eye patch was removed, I felt like I was born again."

Cataract blindness afflicts half of the more than 5.4 million Ethiopians with eye disorders, according to data obtained from the Ethiopian Ministry of Health.

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