JUBA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The newly arrived 14th batch of the Chinese medical team provided essential support to orphaned children during Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations at the Juba Orphanage in South Sudan on Friday.
Christine Poni Joseph, the director of Juba Orphanage, commended the team for their gesture of friendship and urged them to continue their humanitarian spirit.
"The visit by the Chinese medical team has been impressive, and we really thank them for coming. They are working for the betterment of these children. I hope they continue so that more children get access to proper medical treatment," Poni said in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunisolar calendar, symbolizes harvest, family reunions, and togetherness, with traditional mooncakes shared among loved ones.
During their visit, the Chinese medical team donated food and mooncakes, performed health check-ups, and provided immediate treatment to the children.
Poni noted that many of the children frequently suffer from common illnesses such as malaria, typhoid, and skin infections.
"We are facing a lot of problems due to insufficient emergency medicine for malaria, typhoid, diarrhea and skin diseases. We have a total of 31 girls and 51 boys from across the different states of South Sudan," she disclosed.
Zhang Jinguo, leader of the 14th Chinese medical team, noted that celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with the children aligns closely with Chinese tradition, where the holiday is centered on family reunions and togetherness.
"I remember our families used to come together for this special day, and today we come here to visit and extend our care for these kids," he said.
Zhang emphasized the importance of caring for the children as their own, noting that the team aimed not only to bring them joy and affection, but also to wish them good health and a promising future.
"We have kids ourselves, and we are far away from the homeland. Today we have come here to express the love and care for these kids," Zhang said.
Zhang also emphasized that the initiative helps deepen bonds of friendship between China, South Sudan, and Africa as a whole. ■