Braving threat of COVID-19 to treat Cameroon people

After the launch ceremony, patients from nearby villages and Bangante lined up to see doctors from various departments, who were here as members of the 21st Chinese medical team dispatched to Cameroon.

Nya and Ngamga were among the first patients to be consulted.

For the first time in almost 12 years, Ngamga felt relieved when his sickness was detected through echography. Before this, he had visited doctors several times but the results were not satisfactory.

"I can already smile, but I will not laugh yet, because the doctor has told me that he has discovered what is disturbing me. He said, it is a renal cyst and has reassured me that I will be fine when it's operated upon," says Ngamga, a father of eight, smiling.

Nya was offered Chinese medication for her condition. "I am very happy. All this (consultation and treatment) free of charge? I thank the Chinese for coming to help. I have to travel to the hospital tomorrow, but now that I have my drugs, I can only say thank you."

More than 300 patients received diagnosis and treatments on Aug 12.

Mayor Niat says his people marveled at, and were impressed by, the kindness and efficiency of the Chinese doctors.

" (I) am really thankful to China for these people coming here. They are so great, so friendly and really taking care of our population. So it's something that we hope is going to be renewed in future," the mayor says.

For Wang Haijun, a 44-year-old acupuncturist, helping the people during the free healthcare campaign was fulfilling.

Cameroon is his first mission post in Africa. But before arriving in Cameroon, he had spent more than 13 years in Taiyuan, the capital of China's Shanxi province, teaching the Chinese traditional method of treatment.

"I hope to transfer some of my skills to some Cameroonians before leaving," Wang says.

The free clinic ran from Aug 12-13.

As part of the campaign, the medical team donated supplies to help in the fight against COVID-19, including surgical and face masks and several pieces of personal protective equipment, to the Bangante council.

China started to dispatch medical teams to Cameroon in 1975 and 711 medical professionals have worked in Cameroon since then.