MOGADISHU, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- When Hilal Mohamed Nur first arrived in China to pursue postgraduate medical studies, he felt a mix of excitement, curiosity, and nervousness.
Thousands of kilometers from home, he was unsure what to expect from the language, culture, and people. "I didn't know the language or the people, but I was ready to learn," Nur told Xinhua.
Years later, Nur is applying the knowledge and experience he gained in the Asian country to help strengthen Somalia's healthcare sector.
Supported by a Chinese Government Scholarship under the China Scholarship Council (CSC), he earned a Master of Medicine from Xi'an Jiaotong University in Shaanxi Province.
Today, he serves as head of the education and research department at Mogadishu's Madina Hospital, a key public healthcare facility.
Reflecting on his time in China, Nur recalled how the warmth and hospitality he encountered helped him adapt to an unfamiliar environment.
Welcomed by staff and peers at Xi'an Jiaotong University, Nur became the first Somali student in the medical department to pursue a master's degree, joining a small group of Somali undergraduates studying medicine and surgery.
Despite language and cultural barriers, they bonded over shared passions like football, creating lasting connections that enriched his understanding of Chinese society far beyond the classroom.
The partnership dates back to 1978, when the two countries signed a cultural and educational agreement to establish Chinese scholarships for Somali students.
Today, these exchanges continue to open doors for Somali scholars and professionals.
In August 2025, the Chinese Embassy in Somalia hosted a reception for nearly 70 local scholarship recipients under the CSC and the Ministry of Commerce programs.
For Nur, the value of his education became immediately clear upon his return to Somalia during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specializing in emergency and general care, his expertise directly matched the urgent needs of the healthcare sector.
The Ministry of Health appointed him as a health data analyst at the national hospital, where he provided daily analytical updates to guide the government's pandemic response. Meanwhile, Nur also contributes to medical education as a lecturer at SIMAD University in Mogadishu.
Through his combined efforts in hospital administration, research and teaching, he continues to strengthen health service delivery while mentoring Somalia's next generation of medical professionals.
Mohamed Abdi Bafo, another Somali physician educated in China, followed a similar path.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Southeast University in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, he returned home to serve as a surgeon at Madina Hospital.
Bafo noted that when the newly renovated Digfeer Hospital, now known as the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital, began recruiting staff, many of the successful candidates were China-trained graduates.
He attributed their readiness for clinical practice to the rigorous hands-on training received at Chinese universities, where access to advanced laboratories, modern medical equipment, and structured clinical workflows helped them build strong practical skills.
In a health system undergoing major reconstruction, such hands-on experience is invaluable, he added. ■