Nanyang doctors ignite hopes for life in Zambia

The 19th medical aid team comprised of top-notch doctors from 3A-grade hospitals in Nanyang has performed 2,345 operations and received 8,838 outpatients in Zambia over the past 200 days.

In accordance with an agreement between China and Zambia, 28 Nanyang doctors specializing in traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, neurosurgery and orthopedics were dispatched by the Health and Family Planning Commission of Henan Province to extend medical aid.

On May 15, the team embarked on a year-long journey to the landlocked country in Southern Africa, where the breakout of AIDS and malaria are as common as catching a cold. However, there are few hospitals in rural areas in Zambia, with most residents relying on community health centers and rural health posts.

Confronted with differences in language and medical treatment procedures, the first thing the Nanyang doctors did was to familiarize local staff with work standards, procedures, names of the medicines as well as usage. A series of new technologies were brought to Zambia with each doctor taking on different roles based on their expertise.

Ndola Teaching Hospital witnessed its first nasosinusitis operation utilizing an endoscope system on Sept 26, which was performed by team member Bie Guoliang. Lacking a nasal endoscopy system, Bie, relying on his rich experience, innovatively proposed substituting a cystourethroscope.

The operation was a total success with the diseased tissue removed in a short period without causing trauma or massive blood loss. Multiple heads of the surgical and anesthesiology departments watched the process and burst into applause after the operation.

The Nanyang people who contributed to advancing local health care under the program are far too many to mention one by one. Although spread in different hospitals and specializing in different fields, all team members did their part to bring cutting-edge Chinese medical technologies and practices to the African country.