Two Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ships, training ship Qi Jiguang and amphibious dock landing ship Jinggangshan, arrived in Bangladesh on Saturday for a three-day goodwill visit.
The Qi Jiguang ship, named after a 16th-century Chinese general of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), arrived in Chittagong, the largest port city of Bangladesh, on Saturday morning, with about 300 people, including staff from the Chinese embassy and consulate in Bangladesh, representatives of Chinese companies and Confucius Institutes, and representatives of Bangladeshi naval officers and soldiers, welcoming its arrival at the dock.
A banner carrying the sign of "even mountains and oceans cannot distance people with common aspirations" was hung on the Qi Jiguang ship, and a series of exchange activities have been scheduled.
"We were very excited after boarding the ship. Seeing the powerful Chinese Navy, we felt very proud as overseas constructors of the Belt and Road Initiative," said Wu Qiudong, a staff member at a Chinese company in Bangladesh.
The visit of the Chinese naval ships to Bangladesh was carried out in accordance with the annual international military cooperation plan, and is combined with the maritime practical training tasks of the cadets of the PLA Naval University of Engineering, said Chinese naval officers.
"The visit aims to strengthen exchanges, cooperation and mutual trust with the Bangladesh Navy and contribute to the building of a maritime community with a shared future. During the visit, the fleet will organize bilateral meetings, ship open visits and professional exchanges," said Kang Junwei, political commissar of the Qi Jiguang ship.
Chinese naval ships arrive in Bangladesh for goodwill visit
Shanghai, a leading medical hub in China, is endeavoring to develop a comprehensive hospice care service system to offer enhanced medical treatment and more attentive emotional support to patients in their final stages of life.
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is observed annually on the second Saturday in October. More and more people have come to understand that hospice care is not synonymous with giving up treatment. Instead, it refers to an approach that aims to improve the quality of life for patients struggling with life-limiting illnesses, enabling them to live with increased dignity.
Putuo District in Shanghai is among the first pilot areas in China to carry out hospice care services, which has established an integrated hospice service system since 2017 involving 12 community healthcare centers and technical assistance from local hospitals.
Wang, a 94-year-old patient with cerebral infarction, has received professional medical treatment and attentive emotional care in the hospice ward at the healthcare center of Changzheng Town Community in the district since mid-March this year.
"In terms of medical treatment, this center offers a whole set of professional programs that I find effective. Even if I could afford to hire a caregiver for my mom at home, she is not equipped with the right medical facilities and expertise as like here, and I still cannot help it and have to send her to the hospital. So I think the hospice care here is very desirable," said Wang's son.
The palliative care team at the healthcare center of Changzheng Town Community is made up of various professionals such as doctors, nurses, social workers, volunteers, and even psychological counselors. They can provide personalized services to patients in the late stages of serious illnesses where the chances of a cure are limited.
Over the past year, the community healthcare center saw a notable increase in admissions, with 268 patients against 150 the previous year. Patients can access medical services at affordable rates at the center.
"The daily treatment cost for each patient is about 400 yuan (about 57 U.S. dollars), with most of these expenses covered by medical insurance. Patients and their families only need to pay for caregiver services and meals as extra charges," said Hua Zhijia, deputy director of the community healthcare center.
Patients receiving palliative care within communities can be transferred to larger hospitals for advanced medical treatment if their condition deteriorates and becomes more complex, and they can return to community healthcare centers once their symptoms improve.
"Each year, there are usually 500 to 600 cases of patient referrals to larger hospitals or back to community centers, which means that about 50 to 60 patients require referral services each month," said Wu Ying, deputy director of Liqun Hospital in Putuo District.
Shanghai improves hospice care service system
