MAPUTO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The 26th Chinese medical team in Mozambique on Saturday provided free medical services and donated supplies to children at the Orfanato AACOSIDA orphanage in Matola, a city on the outskirts of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique.
Chen Jialei, head of the 26th Chinese medical team, said the team donated food and school supplies and conducted basic health check-ups for the children. Team members also played with the children, engaging in activities such as skipping rope and traditional Chinese games.
"We hope these activities will help the children improve their health awareness and enjoy a happy weekend," Chen said.
He said that 2026 marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, as well as the 50th anniversary of medical assistance from China's Sichuan Province to Mozambique. At this important juncture, the medical team has been carrying out a series of outreach programs, including free clinics and visits to communities, schools, and enterprises, to further deepen friendship between China and Mozambique.
Tomissane Macamo, a long-serving representative of the orphanage, said the institution currently hosts around 80 resident children, along with more than 20 additional children who attend during the day.
He praised the initiative of the Chinese medical team, noting that access to professional medical services is crucial for the well-being of the children. "For us, having specialists come here to assess our health conditions and provide advice is very important," he said.
China has been dispatching medical teams to Mozambique since 1976. The current team is the 26th batch, composed of doctors from multiple disciplines, including orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, anesthesiology, medical cosmetology, and traditional Chinese medicine, among others. ■