JUBA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- The South Sudanese government and the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan on Wednesday honored the outgoing 13th Chinese medical team in Juba, presenting its members with certificates of recognition and officially welcoming the incoming 14th batch.
South Sudan's Health Minister Luke Thompson Thoan Teny said the departing team had provided medical services to local communities and conducted training to strengthen the capacity of the country's healthcare workforce.
"We immensely value our relationship with the people and the government of the People's Republic of China because our relationship is based on and anchored in tangible results," Thoan said.
Teny praised the Chinese medical teams for their resilience in serving under challenging conditions and hoped the incoming 14th batch would expand healthcare services to remote and underserved areas.
Huo Ying, charge d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan, noted that the 13th batch of the Chinese medical team had embodied the spirit of Chinese medical teams: fearlessness in the face of hardship, willingness to make sacrifices, devotion to patients and boundless compassion.
"Your actions have vividly embodied the vision of building a global community of health for all and lived up to the fine reputation of the Chinese medical team," she said.
Huo encouraged the 14th batch to carry forward the legacy of their predecessors, uphold their fine traditions, quickly adapt to the local environment, and integrate into the community.
The 13th batch leader Zhang Erqing said the team conducted more than 13,500 outpatient consultations, treated 1,700 inpatients, performed more than 200 surgeries, and saved more than 50 critically ill patients during its deployment.
Zhang highlighted major medical milestones achieved by the outgoing team, including the launch of South Sudan's first digital picture archiving and communication system, as well as the introduction of ultrasound-guided breast biopsies, laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery, standardized fetal monitoring and expanded cervical cancer screening.
Taking over as team leader, Zhang Jinguo pledged to build on these achievements and work closely with local medical colleagues to advance public health across the country.
Zhang added that the team members would serve the South Sudanese people with professionalism and dedication and would continue to engage in exchanges with colleagues at Juba Teaching Hospital to further strengthen cooperation. ■