18 Jun 2015

The Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Zheng Zhuqiang has commended the 13th China Medical Team for excellent service and a job well done during their stay in Botswana.

Speaking at a farewell and welcome reception in Gaborone on Monday night (June 15), he thanked the outgoing and welcomed the incoming China Medical Team and said the excellent service contributes to the strengthening of China-Botswana friendship.

Mr Zheng said health care has long been one of the top priority areas in China-Botswana cooperation and said the Chinese government does not only dispatch medical teams, but also donates clinical equipment and provides training opportunities for local health professionals.

He said all these aid measures aim to assist Botswana to improve clinical competence and finally to improve the general health of Botswana people.

The ambassador said China and Botswana have enjoyed a long standing friendship, and the two countries are cooperating in various areas including health, trade, investment, agriculture, technology among others. 

He believes that with their joint effort and deeper cooperation between the two sides will ultimately bring a brighter future in these areas.

Turning the 14th China Medical Team which arrived in the country last week, Mr Zheng said most of the professionals are senior specialists, including cardiac surgeons, physicians, oncologists, gynaecologists amongst others.

He urged them to devote themselves to Botswana in the next two years of  their stay with their clinical expertise and delicate techniques and serve Batswana well to ensure that they deliver quality service that will contribute to the improvement of the general health in the country.

Mr Zheng said though they will be faced with challenges and difficulties of leaving behind their families, some husbands, wives and children miles away from where they are now, he said they will have to adapt and deliver quality medical care to Batswana and urged them to always seek assistance wherever they encounter challenges.

For her part the team leader for the outgoing team, Ms Zheng Shounian thanked the management of the Ministry of Health in Botswana, Princess Marina and Nyangabgwe Referral Hospitals management for their kind assistance to facilitate the successful work of their team.

Representing the Ministry of Health, the Director of the department of health policy, development, monitoring and evaluation, Ms Naledi Mlausi thanked the Chinese government for the assistance they offer Botswana in the health sector and urged them to increase the numbers as the country is still experiencing some shortages. ENDS