Third medical team to Barbados takes over from second medical team
The third medical team to Barbados, wholly undertaken by the health committee of Chongqing, arrived today at the Bridgeton International Airport.
Chinese ambassador to Barbados Yan Xiusheng and Economic and Commerce Counselor Qu Ying received the team members at the embassy. Yan spoke highly of the contribution of the first two medical teams to Barbados. He also put forward requirements and expectations for the third team's work in Barbados.
All members of the third medical team have obtained licenses to practice at local hospitals from the Ministry of Health of Barbados.
The Chinese Embassy held a welcome reception for the team members and introduced the team to the Barbados side.
Present at the welcome reception were the Barbados minister of health, Deputy President of Medical Techniques at Queen Elisabeth Hospital (QEH) Dr. Anthony Harris, heads of departments from QEH, President of Nurses' Association Stephanie Bryan, officers from the Barbados Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, officers from the Barbados Ministry of Health, representatives of the local doctors' association, the Confucius Institute, Chinese companies and Chinese associations, and QEH patients.
Yan greeted the guests with a warm welcome and expressed his gratitude for their participation in the reception.
Barbados Minister of Health Bostic, QEH Deputy President Dr. Harris, QEH Head of Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Dr. Radhakanth Shenoy, and patient representative Shemica Brathwaite all gave speeches.
They commended the first two teams on their contribution to local health care, and expressed their hopes for enhancing exchanges and communications between China and Barbados in order to benefit the peoples of both countries and promote peace and development. In the meantime, they extended a farewell to the second team and a warm welcome to the third team.
About a hundred guests watched videos summarizing the work of the second medical team and introducing the third team. The heads of the two teams expressed their appreciation at the reception.
About Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of North America. It covers an area of 4.31 million square kilometers, and has a population of 290,000. The country gained independence in 1966, and established diplomatic relations with China in 1977.
About the China Medical Team to Barbados
In order to realize the substantial commitment made by President Xi on enhancing Sino-Caribbean Region cooperation in 2013 during his visit to the Caribbean region, China started to send medical teams to Barbados. Entrusted by the National Health Commission, the Chongqing Municipal Health Committee independently undertook the task.
The third medical team to Barbados, like the previous teams, consists of eight medical experts. They are from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and Chongqing Emergency Center, and have expertise in ultrasound imaging, renal medicine, traumatic surgery, vascular surgery, nuclear medicine, and neonatology. They will take over the work of the second team at the largest hospital in Barbados, the QEH.
