Eighth and ninth Chinese medical teams to PNG complete work handover

On June 25, 2018, the eighth medical team to Papua New Guinea (PNG) returned to China after completion of a year-long medical aid project and work handover to the ninth medical team, under the guidance of a delegation sent by the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission.

Deputy Director Fang Mingjin from the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission with the 8th and 9th medical teams

Visit the Chinese Embassy to the PNG

Immediately after its arrival on June 19th, the delegation visited the Chinese Embassy to the PNG, where charge d'affaires Yao Ming received them.

Chongqing Municipal Health Commission Delegation with Counselor Yao Ming at the Chinese Embassy to the PNG

Attend Welcome/Farewell Reception hosted by the China-PNG Friendship Association

On the evening of June 19, representatives from the China-PNG Friendship Association hosted a reception for the Chinese teams on behalf of all local Chinese. At the reception, Mr. Lin Huanong, president of the association, spoke and presented honorary certificates to honor the great job done by the 8th team.

Mr. Lin Huanong with the 8th Team Head Ke Dazhi

Attend Welcome/Farewell Ceremony held by the Port Moresby General Hospital

On June 21, CEO of the Port Moresby General Hospital Dr. Umesh Gupta and directors of key departments held a ceremony at Airways Hotel to welcome the ninth team and see off the eighth team. Charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy Yao Ming and Commercial Counselor Liu Linlin attended the ceremony.

CEO and director of Port Moresby General Hospital awards honorary certificate to eighth team head Ke Dazhi

On June 22, deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of Health of the PNG Dakulala held a meeting with deputy director Fang Mingjin and the delegation. The parties subsequently hosted a press conference on the succession of work between the eighth and ninth medical teams. Those attending the event included WHO's Representative to the PNG Mr. Luo Dapeng, Commercial Counselor Liu Linlin, head of the 8th team He Dazhi, head of the 9th team He Weiyang, and Dr. Thomas from the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Deputy secretary-general Dakulala spoke highly of the contributions of the eighth team and extended a warm welcome to the ninth team. He pointed out that the PNG national healthcare system was facing challenges due to under-capacity. Nation-wide only 500 doctors were serving a population of 8 million. The visit of the Chinese doctors was a valuable gift to the PNG people. Before this, the team has been at the Port Moresby General Hospital, working with local doctors in a spirit of friendly communication, offering high-quality medical service to local people, and contributing to improvement of health care in the PNG. The ministry was very thankful for their great work. Going forward, the ninth team will continue to contribute to local health care efforts via minimally invasive surgery in urology and remote medical projects new to the PNG.

Deputy secretary-general of the PNG Ministry of Health Dakulala

The WHO Representative to the PNG, Luo Dapeng, said that the WHO thought highly of the significant contribution by the Chinese medical teams to the local health care sector, and was glad to see what the China-PNG cooperation in the health sector has achieved. In recent years, China's efforts in sending medical teams and the China-Australia-PNG three-party malaria control pilot project have been models for “South-South Medical Cooperation”.

WHO Representative to the PNG, Luo Dapeng

Commercial Counselor Liu Linlin said that in the 16 years since the arrival of the first team in the PNG, they have trained over 1000 medical staff, treated over 100,000 local patients, and maintained deep friendships with colleagues at the Port Moresby General Hospital. Based in the hospital, the teams also went on volunteer tours across the PNG. Each year, they donated medical equipment and supplies to local hospitals. They contributed to improvement of the local healthcare sector, won the trust of the local people, and acted as envoys of friendship between the Chinese and PNG governments and the two countries’ peoples. He believed that the ninth team will make further contributions to medical exchanges, cooperation and friendship between China and the PNG.

Commercial Counselor Liu Linlin at the press release

Dr. Thomas from the Port Moresby General Hospital said that during the past year, he and his colleagues at the General Hospital had had a great time working with the eighth medical team. The Chinese doctors were so nice and skillful. Through working with the Chinese teams, local doctors had many opportunities to learn. He said he looked forward to cooperating with the members of the ninth team.  

Dr. Thomas from Port Moresby General Hospital

Fang Mingjin, deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health for its support of the Chinese medical teams. He said that the teams came with missions to enhance China-PNG friendship, expand health care cooperation, and work for the benefit of the PNG people. The ninth team would be dedicated to work related to a minimally invasive urological surgery center and remote medical projects, in addition to meeting the routine requirements of the General Hospital. After the meeting, director Fang gave a present “Beijing Opera Facial Mask” to the deputy secretary-general.

Deputy Director of Chongqing Municipal Health Commission Fang Mingjin at the press conference