The Chinese Medical team in Tanzania for 60 years: Benevolence and kindness practice China-Africa Community with a shared future

Tanzania, December 2024-2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the dispatch of the Chinese medical team to Tanzania. On this important occasion, President Mwini of Zanzibar, Tanzania, met with the Chinese medical team and awarded MEDALS and commemorative certificates to all the team members, recognizing their outstanding contributions to local medical and health care. Over the past 60 years, the “messengers in white” have taken root in Africa. In the spirit of “great love has no boundaries”, they have continued to send medical technology, health care and humanistic care to the Tanzanian people, becoming a vivid symbol of China-Tanzania friendship.

The “White Soldiers” who took root in Tanzania

At the Kikwete Heart Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city, behind every beat of life are the silent efforts of Chinese doctors. Dr. Zhao Lijian of the 27th batch of Chinese (Shandong) Medical teams to Tanzania helped fill the key medical gaps in the local area with his expertise in interventional treatment of pediatric congenital heart disease.

When Zhao Lijian first set foot on Tanzanian soil, the institute was not able to independently perform interventional surgery for congenital heart disease. Through his tireless efforts and those of his team, medical equipment shipped from China enabled the institute to perform operations. Many successful operations not only saved the lives of the children, but also promoted the improvement of the technical level of local doctors.

“Dr. Zhao is very good at surgery.””Recalls Megha Unadekat, a young local doctor. Under the careful guidance of Zhao Lijian, Unad Carter grew from a fledgling doctor to a backbone doctor who completed complex surgeries independently. Peter Kisengar, executive director of the Institute, said: “It is the selfless dedication of the Chinese medical team that has helped us build a cardiovascular treatment system from scratch to benefit countless Tanzanian patients.”

“Leading Disciples” : Medical inheritance passed down from one generation to the next

At Nazmoga Hospital in Zanzibar, Jiang Guoqing, the leader of the 33th phase of the Chinese (Jiangsu) medical team to Zanzibar, helped local doctors master the world’s leading laparoscopic surgery skills with his professional skills and teaching spirit.

Rashid, a local doctor who just graduated, knew nothing about laparoscopic surgery techniques, but under the guidance of Jiang Guoqing, he went from simple auxiliary operations to independent operations in just a few months. Today, Rashid has successfully performed more than 40 laparoscopic appendectomy and cholecystectomy procedures, becoming one of the first indigenous doctors in Tanzania with this skill.

“I was lucky to meet Chinese teachers, who not only taught me surgical skills, but also brought me the spirit of saving lives.” Rashid said emotionally. The Chinese medical team has not only left valuable medical achievements, but also sowed the seeds of knowledge and hope, helping local medical talents to grow independently.

“Exterminating” : The Battle against schistosomiasis on Pemba Island

Pemba Island of Tanzania used to be a seriously endemic area of schistosomiasis, but with the long-term efforts of the China-assisted Zanzibar Schistosomiasis control team, the situation has been fundamentally improved. Since 2017, Jiangsu Institute of Schistosomiasis Control has cooperated with Tanzanian public health institutions to promote water purification, environmental treatment and health education.

Chinese experts not only go into the pond to kill snails, but also carry out health promotion in communities to improve residents’ living and hygiene habits. Through interdepartmental collaboration, they are also laying clean water pipelines and building water supply points to cut off schistosomiasis transmission at its source.

“Killing snails with drugs is only a stopgap solution. Changing the environment and raising health awareness are the solutions.” Expert group member Wu Hongchu said. Thanks to the team’s efforts, the prevalence of schistosomiasis decreased from 8.92% to 0.64%. Omar Musindo Bakadi, director of the Pemba Island Water Authority, spoke highly of the work of the Chinese medical team: “The plan of the Chinese experts has not only solved the medical problem, but also helped us to meet the challenges of rural

development and environmental governance.”

A community with a shared future for mankind

In the past 60 years, the Chinese medical team in Tanzania has written the stories of doctors across the ocean with countless kindhearted and humane skills. From life-and-death rescue to technical teaching time and time again, from the killing of snails by the pond to the difficult surgery in the hospital, the Chinese medical team has always interpreted the spiritual core of the doctors’ benevolence and the community of human destiny with action.

As Tanzania Zanzibar President Mwini said, “The Chinese medical team not only brings technology and equipment, but also brings hope for the future.” The profound friendship between the Chinese and Tanzanian peoples has long transcended national borders and races and become a model for promoting the development of global health. In the future, the story of the Chinese medical team will continue to be written on the land of Africa and become a glorious chapter of China-Africa cooperation in the new era.