DAR ES SALAAM, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The 28th Chinese medical team to mainland Tanzania has provided free medical services to Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) workers and passengers in Dar es Salaam as part of activities marking the railway's 50th anniversary and honoring the contributions of railway workers.
Co-organized by TAZARA and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation on Wednesday, the outreach program included consultations, screenings, and health advice.
Issa Hamisi, a 52-year-old driver at TAZARA headquarters in Dar es Salaam, said that he had long postponed routine health checks due to cost and time constraints.
"The doctors are attentive and very thorough. They listen carefully and make patients feel confident," Hamisi said. "It is not easy to go to the hospital regularly because of cost and time, so this service is very helpful."
According to medical personnel involved in the outreach, common conditions observed included high blood pressure, back pain, fatigue-related headaches, and digestive issues.
Liu Jia, head of the 28th Chinese medical team, said the outreach was organized to coincide with the TAZARA golden jubilee and to honor the contribution of railway workers who have sustained operations over decades.
"We came here to provide free medical services as part of the 50th anniversary of TAZARA railway," said Liu. "It is a meaningful occasion to support the workers who contribute to the railway every day by offering medical care and health education."
The outreach also attracted members of the public who happened to encounter the medical team during their visit to the railway station area.
Lucy Nyoni, a resident of Temeke District in Dar es Salaam, said she had initially gone to the station to purchase a ticket for travel to Mlimba in Morogoro Region when she discovered the free medical services being offered.
"When I arrived here, I was able to receive services from the Chinese doctors," she said. "They listened carefully when I explained my health concerns, and they treated me with respect and kindness."
Nyoni said she underwent several routine tests and received medical advice on insect bites and general health concerns.
"They carried out medical tests and gave me valuable advice. The service was friendly and supportive without any difficulties," she said. "It is reassuring to see such care being provided."
The visiting medical team is part of a long-standing program of Chinese medical assistance to Tanzania, which has been in place for decades alongside broader cooperation in infrastructure, trade, and development.
Completed in the 1970s, the TAZARA railway links the port city of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia. It was built with Chinese technical and financial assistance at a time when both Tanzania and Zambia were seeking alternative trade routes.
Over the decades, the railway has played a crucial role in transporting copper from Zambia, agricultural goods from Tanzania and Zambia, and passengers traveling between the two countries, said Bruno Ching'andu, TAZARA managing director and chief executive officer.
Experts from Tanzania, Zambia, and China have been working to implement a rehabilitation program to restore the railway's operational capacity. ■