China-Africa Health Cooperation Fruitful: OfficialA top Chinese health official said Tuesday that China and Africa have carried out successful health cooperation in the past 37 years and that China would provide more medical assistance to Africa."China dispatched its first medical team to Africa in 1963. In the past 37 years, a total of 16,000 Chinese medical workers have worked in 45 African countries, providing treatment to 200 million patients," Chinese Vice Health Minister Zhu Qingsheng told a workshop of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which opened Tuesday in Beijing. Today, 846 Chinese medical workers are working in 33 African countries, said Zhu at the workshop on education, science and technology, and health. Besides modern medical technology, Chinese doctors have brought to Africa traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese treatment skills like acupuncture and massage. They helped train African colleagues and won support from African governments and public health authorities, Zhu said. During their stay in Africa, Chinese medical workers formed friendship with local people, deepening mutual understanding between Chinese and Africans, said Zhu. He said China would increase its medical assistance to Africa, taking into account China's financial capabilities and the specific health realities of relevant African countries. "China will continue to provide necessary medical equipment and medicines and enhance training for local medical workers," Zhu said. He said China has carried out successful cooperation with Africa on the prevention and treatment of malaria and HIV/AIDS and is still committed to the diseases' prevention and treatment. |
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