The 11th Chinese medical team who has been working in Ghana for a year have achieved remarkable success. Led by Yu Dongnan, the team has overcome numerous challenges, including a shortage of medical supplies and equipment, and has made significant contributions to the Lekma Hospital, a China-Ghanaian friendship hospital. As Yu Dongnan explained during the summary meeting, "difficulties are meant to be overcome, and we have created opportunities to make breakthroughs despite a shortage of resources." Among their accomplishments is the "Minimally Invasive Surgery in Ghana, Seeing the World Clearly" charity project, which has provided 100 free cataract surgeries and 50 discounted laparoscopic surgeries.

The charity project has given local residents access to free medical treatment

The year 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of China's foreign medical aid and the 52nd anniversary of Guangdong province's foreign medical aid. Over the past 50 years, Guangdong has sent medical teams to Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, and Dominica.

In March 2023, the 12th medical team from Guangzhou set out to provide assistance abroad. On March 13th, the 11th Chinese medical team in Ghana successfully completed their mission and returned home.

Accordingto Yu Dongnan, during their work, the team discovered that some patients in Ghana were unable to afford the cost of artificial lenses or the relatively expensive laparoscopic surgeries.

Therefore, the team decided to take action and established the "Minimally Invasive Surgery in Ghana, Seeing the World Clearly" charity project in December 2022. The project aims to provide free medical assistance to 100 poor residents requiring cataract surgery, and discounted medical assistance to 50 residents requiring laparoscopic surgery. This charity project not only benefits local residents, but also educates medical professionals in the region.

Telling Chinese stories by inviting foreigners to China

Over the past year, China's medical team in Ghana has not only provided daily medical services but also shared new technologies and concepts with local colleagues through teaching and training, creating conditions for complex surgeries and emergency patient care. Their excellent work has earned high praise from the Ghanaian government and people, as well as the "Outstanding Unit for Foreign Medical Aid Work in 2022" award from the National Health Commission of China.

"There are three core aspects to our work in Ghana: serving the Ghanaian people, serving Chinese nationals and overseas Chinese, and building bridges for China-Ghana friendship. It is said that China's medical team is a group of white-coated 'diplomats', promoting China-Ghana friendship and protecting the health of the recipient country's people. Besides, employees of Chinese-funded enterprises in Ghana also need medical care from their homeland. By taking care of their health, we are also serving China's diplomatic agenda," said Wei Wei, Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of Cardiology at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and a member of the 11th Chinese medical team to Ghana.

"We have come into contact with many Ghanaian doctors who are eager to study in China. After Ghanaian doctors come to China to study, they can also tell China's story to the world," said Cai Guanfu, Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of General Surgery at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital.

支援加纳，中国医疗队带去了什么？

“困难是用来克服的。从缺医少药、设备简陋，到自己动手、创造条件，实现零的突破。”第11批援加纳中国医疗队工作总结会议上，该批医疗队队长于冬男表示，在加纳支援一年的时间里，医疗队在Lekma Hospital（中加友好医院）取得了不少成果，尤其是“微创在加纳，光明看世界”慈善项目落地，为当地群众免费资助100例白内障手术，减免实施50例腹腔镜手术。

慈善项目落地，让当地居民有机会获免费救治

今年是中国援外医疗队派遣60周年，广东省承派援外医疗队52周年。在这五十余年间，广东先后向赤道几内亚、冈比亚、加纳、多米尼克派出长期援外医疗队。

2023年3月6日，第12批医疗队从广州出征，3月13日，第11批援加纳中国医疗队圆满完成任务回国。　　

“在诊疗过程中，我们发现，在加纳，一些患者由于支付不起人工晶体的费用或者相对高昂的微创手术费用而放弃白内障手术，或者宁愿选择风险更大的开放性手术。我们必须要做一些事来帮助他们。”于冬男说。

2022年12月，“微创在加纳，光明看世界”慈善项目活动正式启动，拟为当地贫困群众免费提供100例白内障手术，减免50例腹腔镜手术的费用。首个慈善项目落地加纳，让先进的微创手术技术惠及更多当地民众的愿望，也能为当地培养出一批医护人才。

讲好中国故事，不仅走出去也要请进来

一年来，医疗队在做好日常诊疗工作的同时，广泛开展教学与培训，向加纳同行传授新技术、新理念，创造条件开展疑难手术、抢救危重患者。他们的出色工作赢得了加纳政府和人民的高度评价，也获得了国家卫生健康委“2022年卫生援外工作表现突出集体”的荣誉称号。

“在加纳的工作有三大核心：为加纳人民服务、为华人华侨服务、为中加友谊搭建桥梁。都说中国医疗队是白衣‘外交官’，传播中加友谊，保障受援国人民的健康。同时，在加纳的中资企业员工也非常需要来自祖国的医护人员。我们守护好他们的健康，也是服务国家外交大局。”第11批援加纳中国医疗队队员、广东省人民医院心内科副主任医师魏薇说。

“我们接触到的很多加纳医生渴望来中国学习。加纳的医生来中国学习后，他们也能向全世界讲好中国故事。”广东省人民医院普外科副主任医师蔡观福表示。

文｜羊城晚报全媒体记者 张华 通讯员 粤卫信 
图｜受访者提供
翻译｜刘佳慧
校对｜桂晴
责编｜王瑜瑛