Shanghai medical aid in Morocco sincerely honored

The 198th batch of China's medial team supporting Morocco left Shanghai for their mission on Saturday.

This year is the 50th anniversary of China's sending medial teams to the northern African country. In the past five decades, China has sent over 2,000 medical professionals to Morocco, offering 6.7 million service so far.

All China's medical teams include doctors from Shanghai.

Chinese medical professionals provide clinical service, set up standard health care process, offer training for African doctors and donate medical device to local hospitals, greatly improving the medical capability in Morocco.

Shanghai doctors have become "health guardian angels" among Moroccans.

Dr Zhou Long, a doctor from Shanghai General Hospital, said Shanghai doctors are important support to health system in Morocco.

"If we don't serve there, they may be unable to see a doctor for three days. During our mission, half of their newborn babies are delivered by Chinese doctors," she said.

"The first day of our arrival, all people on the street welcomed us by French and Arabic. We can feel a decent appreciation and gratitude from these people."

Dr Huang Chengsheng from Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital said the fertility rate in Morocco is very high, but local medical capability is weak and many pregnant women are unable to receive regular prenatal examination.

"So there are many emergency conditions during delivery," he said. "Chinese doctors with profound experience will try their best to guarantee the safety of local people."

Dr Shen Hanbing, an acupuncture doctor from Longhua Hospital, said a patient showed him a medical record left by the previous Shanghai doctors 30 years ago and expressed his trust in traditional Chinese medicine.

"It means TCM has gained very strong recognition abroad. It makes me love my job better and is confident that I am doing something meaningful. We bring our TCM technology abroad to allow more overseas patients to benefit from it," he said.