A China-assisted hospital in the Republic of the Congo has not only brought health to Congonese people, but also served as a testament to the strong friendship between the two nations.
In the suburbs of Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of the Congo, the Chinese-Congolese Friendship Hospital has won the trust of local people.
Inaugurated in March 2013 together by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, the hospital is often called the "Chinese hospital", as a Chinese medical team has always been there.
"Congolese doctors are accompanied by the Chinese. This cooperation is a big 'plus'," said Cecile Olivia Boulinzann, physician and head of the Department of Pediatrics of the Chinese-Congolese Friendship Hospital.
"Chinese doctors are completely open, competent people. And they lend a hand to the Congolese teams," said Benjamin Ngakono, director of the Chinese-Congolese Friendship Hospital.
The current Chinese medical team, led by Yang Tingshuang, arrived in November and has been well-supported by Ngakono, fostering a successful collaboration with local doctors.
"Director Benjamin gives great support to our work. He is highly cooperative and very kind," said Yang, head of the 30th Chinese medical team in the Republic of the Congo.
"The collaboration is very good. We intervene in all areas; we discuss, we find solutions. I try to cooperate with the different Chinese medical teams that follow one another, and the work is going well," said Ngakono.
This unique cooperation has earned the hospital a great reputation, with patients appreciating the Chinese expertise,
"You know, in the city, they even call this hospital 'the hospital of the Chinese.' So that's what attracts people a lot more. Patients always come back, because they are satisfied, because they know that by coming here, they will get Chinese expertise," said Boulinzann.
"When the Chinese are not there, there are some patients who don't want to show up. They prefer to wait until the Chinese doctors are there," said Ngakono.
The most reputed department in the hospital is the ophthalmology center, opened in 2018.
"I'll tell you a little story. Our ophthalmologists operated on a patient. Of course, the operation was completely free. Afterwards, he was completely cured of cataracts. To express his thanks, he walked more than ten kilometers to offer a gift to the ophthalmologists," said Yang.
Year after year, the teams keep doing their best, with the aim of making the hospital worthy of its exceptional status.
"It was here that President Xi Jinping put forward in 2013 the four principles of Chinese medical aid to Africa: braving difficulties, being willing to make sacrifices, saving the sick and caring for the wounded and spreading fraternity without borders. Fraternity without borders means that when we succeed, we share the gains with others. We Chinese have the ability and the will to help our brothers in need," said Yang.
"China gives us equipment. China gives us manpower, especially the Chinese doctors who come to help us carry out this task. So you see, it is in this sense that China and Africa constitute a real community of shared destiny," said Ngakono.
For the future, the director already has some projects in mind -- to make more Congolese benefit from cooperation with China.
"This space is earmarked for the expansion of the hospital, so that an ophthalmology block can be built. We could hospitalize the sick in that block. We have a lot of patients who come with eye infections. They are being treated, but they can’t be hospitalized as of now. We believe that cooperation between China and Congo in the field of health has a bright future ahead of it," said Ngakono.
The cooperation between China and Africa, as exemplified by the hospital, demonstrates a shared commitment to improving healthcare in the region.
China-aided hospital in the Republic of the Congo improves healthcare, fosters friendship
