Chinese medical team at Barbados Kadooment Day

Barbados is known for producing cane sugar. People there celebrate cane harvest every year on “Kadooment Day”.

Kadooment Day is the largest festival in Barbados, and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the nation every year. It's highlighted by a grand parade, where people dress themselves up glamorously, march down the streets, and sing and dance all day long.

China Medical Team Members at the First-aid Booth

It was the first time for the Chinese Medical Team to take part in this event. Team members went through available equipment and medical supplies at the office, selected devices and drugs based on their clinical experience, and tested and fine-tuned all equipment. In the end the team had come up with a first-aid kit that served a health-care purpose and also reflected elements of traditional Chinese medicine.

On the day of the parade, team members arrived at the booth ahead of time to prepare. The team flag, with a print of the Chinese national flag, was shown at the booth. The Chinese medical team worked for seven hours at the booth until the parade closed, and answered medical enquiries from local residents and those marching in the parade. They also introduced the work of the medical team in Barbados.

Chinese medical team with a local parader

Medical aid is an important way to serve the purpose of national diplomatic strategies, in addition to supporting local medical development. It was a goal of the team's participation in the local celebration to enhance visibility and influence of the medical team, and exercise the soft power of “people-to-people diplomacy”.

In the coming days, the medical team will engage extensively with local people to promote personal connections and serve the development of the diplomatic relations and One Belt One Road initiative.

The medical team with the Chinese Ambassador to Barbados