Chinese doctors win hearts with dedication, professionalism in Djibouti

DJIBOUTI CITY-- In the bustling corridors of Peltier General Hospital in Djibouti City, the capital of Djibouti, a memorial plaque in French next to a consultation room's door caught the eye. "In memory of the honorable Dr. Zhang Huiting, who used to work in the ENT-Maxillofacial Department, we will always remember him," it reads.

Zhang was the leader of the 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Djibouti and a dedicated otorhinolaryngologist who came to the East African country twice and devoted himself to providing medical services to local people for more than four years.

Despite the challenges of a heavy workload and inadequate medical equipment, he treated approximately 9,000 patients and performed over 500 surgeries during his second mission from October 2017 to May 2020. Tragically, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer during his second mission and passed away in August 2021 after returning to China for treatment.

Saad Abdillahi Awaleh, chief of the ENT (ear, nose and throat) department at the hospital who worked with Zhang, remembers him as a conscientious and experienced doctor who also contributed greatly to training local doctors. "We will not forget everyone who has dedicated himself to the people of Djibouti, and he will always be remembered by the medical staff here."

Zhang's story is just one among many of the Chinese medical teams' commitment to Djibouti's healthcare sector. Despite facing harsh working conditions, they have utilized their exceptional medical skills to fill the gaps in local medical technology.

One of the patients who received life-changing treatment from Chinese doctors is Mokhtar, a 23-year-old Djiboutian soldier who suffered severe injuries to his face and chest in an explosion while on duty. Local doctors had stabilized his condition but lacked the expertise for the complex surgery required to treat his injuries.

Hou Wei, a maxillofacial surgeon and leader of the 21st Chinese medical team, was able to operate on Mokhtar for over five hours, delicately reconstructing his shattered jawbone and repairing the missing soft tissue.

When the young soldier looked at himself in the mirror after the surgery, he was ecstatic to see his face being restored and repeatedly thanked Hou for his work.

The contributions of the Chinese medical teams in Djibouti go beyond individual cases. They have also worked tirelessly to train local healthcare professionals and implement better healthcare practices.

The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) department at Peltier General Hospital in Djibouti always sees a constant stream of patients seeking treatment. Two Chinese acupuncture and massage doctors, Zhou Naizhong and Lian Xin'gang, stationed at the department, attend to 40 patients daily.

Thanks to the efforts over the years of the Chinese medical teams, the TCM is gradually gaining recognition in Djibouti. Last November, the current Chinese medical team based in Djibouti held the first TCM training course, teaching 13 local medical personnel how to perform massage and acupuncture. This has helped form a team of Djiboutian TCM practitioners, benefiting even more locals.

Since 1981, China has sent nearly 200 doctors from different departments to Djibouti to provide much-needed medical assistance. Their contributions have been appreciated by the Djiboutian government, which has presented the Chinese medical teams with 52 honorary awards, including medals and honors.