A team of Chinese medical workers aboard the navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" has been offering diabetes diagnosis and treatment services for teenagers in Djibouti since their arrival last Friday.
Invited by Djiboutian officials, the medical team, which includes specialists from internal medicine, ophthalmology, pediatrics and other fields, visited the country's national adolescent diabetes diagnosis and treatment center twice to provide medical assistance and engage in professional exchanges.
The medical team arrived at the center at 9:00, where teenagers were already waiting accompanied by their parents.
Chinese medical experts assessed the children's conditions in detail, developed tailored sugar control plans, and advised parents on how to plan a balanced diet for their children.
"We actively pay attention to the medical records of key patients and ensure long-term follow-up on their treatment, hoping to bring changes and hopes to their lives and futures through our help," said Chen Xiangfang, a doctor.
"During our diagnosis and treatment, we not only deliver timely and effective treatment, but also carry out preventive education and early screening for diabetic eye complications. This is crucial for slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy, preventing blindness and disability, and improving the quality of life for our patients," said Gao Yu, another doctor.
Chinese medical experts also had in-depth exchanges with Djibouti's medical staff and provided diagnosis and treatment suggestions for the long-term care of adolescent diabetes, so as to enhance the professional skills of local medical personnel and deepen the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in the health sector.
The Peace Ark docked at the Djibouti Port on Dec 6 to begin a seven-day friendly visit while providing medical services. This marks the third visit to Djibouti by the hospital ship, following its previous visits in 2010 and 2017 as part of the Mission Harmony.
Chinese medical workers provide diabetes diagnosis, treatment for Djiboutian teenagers
A growing number of research and production enterprises focused on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft have emerged in China and are seeking the necessary certification to bring their products to the sky.
Volant, a Shanghai-based eVTOL developer, is seeking a type certificate (TC) for its 2.5-ton eVTOL aircraft, which is designed to carry one pilot and up to five passengers.
Currently, the company has signed preliminary cooperation agreements with numerous clients, with total orders exceeding 700 aircraft. However, before these partnerships can be realized, they must secure various safety certifications from local civil aviation authorities over the next one to two years.
"Obtaining certifications is a complex process involving hundreds of testing subjects. For example, the seats must be able to withstand 16 times the force of gravity throughout the aircraft's entire lifespan," said Huang Xiaofei, Vice President of Strategy at Volant.
Jiang Jun is the co-founder of TCab Tech, another eVTOL developer. A month ago, they also held a meeting to apply for a type certificate (TC) for their first model. He noted that China has a relatively well-developed environment for eVTOL aircraft manufacturing.
"Currently, the only component we import is the motor, which comes from the French manufacturer Safran. All other parts are made in China, so the entire supply chain is essentially complete," said Jiang.
Driven by the manufacturing demand for eVTOL aircraft, the industry is actively expanding and investing across various segments of the entire supply chain.
"For example, we have partnered with several leading universities and research institutes in Shanghai to innovate components and composite materials. We are also focusing on domestic chips and materials to replace imported components. I believe this represents a major opportunity for the entire industry," said Zhu Min, head of Shanghai STVC Group.
In 2024, the Shanghai municipal government issued an action plan aimed at supporting the development of over 10 leading eVTOL aircraft research and manufacturing enterprises, with the goal of attracting more than 100 key supporting companies by 2027.
"We are focused on building a comprehensive industrial system for the research and development, design, final assembly, trial testing, and commercial application of new low-altitude aircraft. We are leveraging municipal industrial special funds to accelerate the innovative research and manufacturing efforts of enterprises in Shanghai," said Guo Lei, director of the Major Equipment Industry Division of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization.
China’s eVTOL developers race to obtain certifications
