Chinese "Brightness Trip in to Sierra Leone" Launched

The Chinese Medical Team in Sierra Leone

Six senior ophthalmologists and nurses from Hunan Province in the People's Republic of China, are currently in Sierra Leone for a one month period to provide two hundred free cataract surgeries and patient education for local patients, personnel training and other academic communications with their counterparts. The Chinese "Brightness Trip into Sierra Leone" was officially launched in the West African country's eastern city of Kenema on Tuesday (6th November 2018) where over fifty locals have been successfully cured just a few days after the medical team arrived.

Chinese "Brightness Trip into Sierra Leone" is a project sponsored by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China and it is implemented by the Hunan Provincial Health, Freetown and Kenema Health Management Teams, the 2nd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, and the Hunan Provincial People's Hospital.

The project serves as another close cooperation between China and Sierra Leone in the field of health and clinical medicine, and it will further strengthen and consolidate the long-lasting friendship between the two countries and their people.

Chinese Officials and Health Workers at the Kenema Government Hospital in Sierra Leone

The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Wu Peng said the aim of the campaign is to help people that are suffering from cataract to feel the brightness of the world again. "We all know that it is a big misfortune to lose the sight in one's life. We know it brings tremendous happiness to regain the ability to see. It is exactly this kind of happiness that Chinese doctors will bring to the Sierra Leonean people," he said. Ambassador Wu pointed out that the project will benefit patients, improve their capacity of primary medical care institutions and exchange medical knowledge and skills between both sides' personnel.

The Chinese government has dispatched China Medical Teams to Sierra Leone since 1973, and in the last 45 years, thousands of Chinese doctors and experts have visited Sierra Leone to contribute to the medical progress and people's health in the country.

"I am really proud of my fellow Chinese doctors and medical experts and feel the importance of public health cooperation with Sierra Leone to benefit the welfare of Sierra Leoneans and development of global health," Ambassador Wu Peng said and added that the Chinese doctors have come from afar bringing with them the hope of brightness.

The Project Team Leader, Xue Gang Yue said medical equipment and drugs will be donated to the Kenema Government Hospital and local personnel will be trained on how to use them so that more cases will be treated after the Chinese Team would have left. He assured of his team's determination and willingness to live up to expectations.

Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Wu Peng unveiled one of the operated cataract patients

The Hunan Health Commissioner, Peng Zhen Guo reiterated that the two countries have made remarkable progress in diplomatic ties for over forty five years under the spirit of win-win situation, hoping that the current work of the Chinese Doctors and Medical Experts will further contribute to an unbreakable China-Africa community.

Sierra Leone's Dr. Matthew Vandy, Director of Hospitals and Ambulance Services, expressed delight on the fact that the Chinese Team's work will reduce drastically blind cases in the country.

Sierra Leonean Nurses trained to operate cataract surgery equipment

Other local authorities thanked the Chinese Government for restoring the sights of cataract patients.

Cataract, according to medical experts, is the clouding of natural lens in the eye, thus blocking the light into the eye. It dims or blurs the vision of victims. The disease is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Surgery is said to be the only effective way to cure cataract as it is safe and quick. Most people will gain an improved vision after the surgery.