Mwinyi thumbs up Chinese healthcare support
ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR President Dr Hussein Mwinyi bid farewell to a 29-member Chinese medical team at the Isles State House, lauding their contributions in enhancing healthcare in the Isles.
In his remarks, Dr Mwinyi thanked President Xi Jinping and the people of China for their long-standing support of Zanzibar and Tanzania across various sectors.
“We are proud of our strong relations, which benefit our people,” Dr Mwinyi stated. He commended the Chinese medical team for their significant contributions to enhancing medical services in Zanzibar, both on Unguja and Pemba Islands.
The farewell reception also served as a welcoming event for a new group of Chinese medical doctors who will serve in Zanzibar for the next year.
Dr Mwinyi noted that the Zanzibar government and its citizens would always cherish the impact of the outgoing Chinese medical team.
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China has supported Zanzibar in numerous development areas, including health infrastructure improvements such as the major renovation of Abdalla Mzee Pemba Hospital.
Additionally, China has provided training through short- and long-term scholarships in Chinese medical institutions, contributed to capacity building for health workers and supplied medical equipment and medicines.
Dr Mwinyi highlighted the collaborative efforts in combating various diseases, including mass screenings for cervical cancer and schistosomiasis and upgrading medical labs with modern equipment.
The outgoing team, led by Dr Yuzheng Huang, was accompanied to the State House by the Chinese Acting Consul General to Zanzibar, Chang Ming.
Acting Consul General Chang praised the strong cooperation between China and Zanzibar, emphasising the Chinese doctors’ contributions to improving Zanzibar’s health sector.
Zanzibar’s Minister for Health, Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, also expressed appreciation for both the outgoing and incoming Chinese medical doctors, acknowledging their continued support for the government’s health sector improvements.
Dr Amour Suleiman, Director General of the Ministry of Health, detailed that the departing doctors specialised in various fields, including surgery, ophthalmology, dentistry, reproductive health, oncology and radiology.
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Over the past year, they collaborated successfully with local medical teams at Mnazi Mmoja Referral Hospital, Abdalla Mzee Hospital in Pemba, Kivunge Hospital in Unguja and Chakechake Hospital in Pemba.
Dr Yuzheng Huang thanked the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar under President Mwinyi, as well as the Ministry of Health for their excellent cooperation.
He also praised the hospitality of the Zanzibari people, sharing that each team member has memorable experiences from their time on the islands.
Dr Yuzheng, who also leads the Chinese project to control schistosomiasis in Zanzibar, highlighted the positive impact of their mission.
