Since 1982, the Chinese government has sent 22 medical teams to Rwanda with a total of 273 members. This year marks the 40th anniversary of China Medical Team in Rwanda. The 22nd China Medical Team has 15 members including 11 doctors, 1 nurse, 1 translator and 2 chefs.
This year’s medical outreach is conducted between 6th to 8th September 2022 at Gahanga Health Center in Kicukiro District of Kigali City.
In cooperation with local medical staff, the Chinese medical team is expected to complete the diagnosis and treatment of more than 300 patients and provide local people with services such as health consultation, ultrasound examination, dental examination, electrocardiogram examination and Chinese Acupuncture.
Dr. Peng Jikui, the Chinese team leader has explained that the medical outreach program is part of his country’s pledge to help Africans access medical services easily.
“We are celebrating 40-year anniversary since China started sending specialist medical doctors to Rwanda. We do not only provide free medical services in Rwanda but also in other African countries. This is the strategy under which our country pledged to contribute to health services,” he said.
Dr. Peng revealed that the majority of patients attended to have been diagnosed with non-communicable diseases where they are making possible efforts to treat them. He expressed optimism that the patients will recover soon in consideration of prescribed medicines.
The Head of Gahanga Health Center, Jean Marie Vianney Barinzi commended the specialist doctors for their intervention to improve and offer new services at the facility.
“We expect a lot from these Chinese medical doctors because they have different specialties. They have also given us medicaments and medical equipment expected to help us improve services,” he noted.
“Normally, we receive a large number of patients at the health center. They would spend long time waiting for appointments. Besides, they also get transferred to referral hospitals for appointments with specialist doctors to get advanced services. This would take long and incur much expense on transport,” added Barinzi.
Espérance Mukangwije is among beneficiaries who underwent minor surgery. She was treated as soon as he arrived at the health center, thanks to the partnership between Rwanda and China.
Maniragaba, another patient who received free medical treatment was excited with quality services received for free.
“I was surprised to receive such services for free without requirements for community based health insurance or other payments. It is extremely exciting. I am optimistic that received prescriptions will undoubtedly help me to recover,” she said.
Other beneficiaries expressed delight for receiving free medical services without delays or transfers to hospitals.
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