CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- On October 11, the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission held a heartfelt send-off ceremony for the 14th Chinese medical team heading to Papua New Guinea (PNG). This new team will replace the 13th team and is set to embark on a one-year health assistance mission at Port Moresby General Hospital.

The 14th team, led by the Affiliated Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, includes specialists from four partnering institutions: Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, and Rongchang People's Hospital. The team comprises a urologic specialist, a breast specialist, a neurosurgery specialist, and a surgical nursing specialist. Additionally, to address PNG's unique health needs, the lineup includes professionals in neonatology, cardiology, and nephrology, and an expert in traditional Chinese medicine, specializing in acupuncture and tuina. This allows the people of PNG to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medical practices.

The delegation consists of eight committed healthcare professionals, all considered clinical leaders in their respective fields, with an average age of 37.6 years.

Since 2002, the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission (formerly the Chongqing Municipal Health Bureau) has been tasked by the National Health Commission (formerly the Ministry of Health) to send medical teams to PNG, marking China’s first medical aid initiative in the South Pacific. Each medical team comprises ten members who serve as consultant doctors and nursing experts at the Port Moresby General Hospital. By September 2024, Chongqing had dispatched 13 batches of medical teams to PNG, totaling 129 personnel.

Chen Zijun, captain of the 14th medical team, expressed her hope that their year-long efforts would enhance the friendship between the two regions and contribute to the global dissemination of Chinese culture. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)