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China’s Hospital Ship Warmly Welcomed by Locals in Mexico

By Li Qiang; Wang Xiaobo (People's Daily Online)    08:32, November 19, 2015
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China’s Hospital Ship Warmly Welcomed by Locals in Mexico
The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Hospital Ship Peace Ark ported in Acapulco Harbor in Mexico on November 12, 2015 as part of its Harmonious Mission-2015.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Hospital Ship Peace Ark ported in Acapulco Harbor in Mexico on November 12, 2015 as part of its Harmonious Mission-2015.

“Peace Ark will offer medical assistance and humanitarian services to local communities and conduct exchange in military, medicine and culture fields during this visit,” said Naval Colonel Guan Bolin, deputy Chief of Staff of the East China Sea Fleet. Bolin was also the Mission Commander of Harmonious Mission-2015.

The port where the hospital ship docked in was the destination of the historically well-known "Manila Galleon" route in the 17th and 18th century. The nearby Acapulco Historic Museum of San Diego Fort houses a large number of porcelain antiques and silk relics from China’s Ming and Qing Dynasty. Among the exhibits, a coin inscribed “The Reign of Qingyuan " can be dated back to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279), when relations between China and Mexico have already begun developing. In Mexico, when people talk about Acapulco, long history of trade and cultural exchanges with China will pop out in people’s minds in addition to the sunny beaches.

According to the Head of the Clinic on Peace Ark Sun Tao, large medical equipment on board has been upgraded in recent years. The ship is currently equipped with CT, DR, B ultrasound, ECG and surgical monitoring systems and other gears, which can accommodate tumor resection and complicated surgery on board.

“I think this is an excellent opportunity for Mexico to deepen the friendship with China,” said Mexican Navy Representative Sarmiento. “We are excited to witness the support Chinese Navy has brought to Acapulco. The equipment in the hospital ship is cutting-edge. Some of the surgery rooms are so well equipped that it’s rare to see in our hospitals on land”.

“This ship is a miracle,” he added.

Peace Ark is the first 10,000-ton hospital ship solely developed by China. Its visit in Mexico made the headlines in Acapulco.

As early as 3a.m. in the morning, over 500 people started lining up to aboard the ship for medical treatment. That was five hours ahead of the clinic hours on board.

“China is an eternal friend to Mexico. We hope you can visit us more often,” said Maria, a 62-year-old patient who has been suffering from rheumatism. She boarded the ship to receive treatment with nurse’s assistance.

Maria’s old vocation as a masseuse has sparked her interests in traditional Chinese medicine and massage. "The ship of friendship has brought not only great medical service but also Chinese culture to Mexico," she said, noting that its arrival has surprised Acapulco people and even made people from other parts of Mexico envy.

Many patients on board complained about the waiting time in Mexican public hospitals, while private hospitals are too pricey for them, according to Wu Chengping, the Political Commissar of the Mission. Most of the patients onboard the Peace Ark were lower income and had limited access to timely medical help. “What we can do is to give them a thorough check-up, to at least try to identify any ailments that may cause them illness in the future,” said Wu.

The news of Peace Ark was on local media’s daily whole-page coverage. When locals there saw an a person with an Asian face on streets, they would approach them and asked if they were from Peace Ark. The hospital has apparently become a star in Acapulco. 


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(For the latest China news, Please follow People's Daily on Twitter and Facebook)
(Editor:Shen Chen, Joanna Law,Bianji)

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