Shanxi to expand decades-long medical aid in Africa

Shanxi province is expanding its overseas medical aid efforts as it promotes a Sino-African health community while continuing to advance high-quality development in its own health sector, according to Zhang Bo, director of the provincial health commission.

Since 1975, Shanxi has provided medical aid to five sites in Cameroon, Togo and Djibouti, Zhang said. To date, the province has dispatched 70 medical teams with 1,466 people who have treated more than 5 million patients in the three countries. Among the medical professionals, 404 have received honors such as the Knight Medal, the Independent Medal and the Outstanding Contribution Award.

From 1963 to August 2024, China dispatched 25,000 medical workers to 48 African countries, treating about 230 million patients, according to the National Health Commission.