Thirty local residents who received free cataract extraction surgery expressed their gratitude to Shenzhen volunteer doctors during a gathering in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, on Tuesday.
The doctors — members of the 33rd batch of Chinese medical teams dispatched to the West African country by the Shenzhen health authority — have been providing free medical treatment and training local doctors since December 2023. Over the past eight months, the team has treated 12,000 patients and performed 300 cataract removal and other eye surgeries, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported Thursday.
Cataracts and other eye conditions are prevalent among the local population due to the intense sunlight in Equatorial Guinea, and many patients lose their eyesight due to delayed treatment. While the Shenzhen doctors arrived well-prepared, bringing a portable ultrasound machine and essential medical supplies, they still encountered significant challenges.
Ophthalmologists were unable to ascertain the suitability of patients for surgery through routine examinations due to the lack of ophthalmic ultrasound equipment, said Xie Hongbin and Wang Xizhen, team members from Shenzhen Ophthalmology Hospital.
The medical team sought alternative options to deal with the situation. On Jan. 25, Xie performed the team's first cataract operation in a hospital in Malabo. The operation had previously been suspended due to a lack of necessary medical equipment.
Word of mouth spread quickly. A large number of cataract patients, including the eldest at age 96, sought treatment from the Shenzhen doctors after the operation. The team has performed 300 surgeries since then, and no complications have been reported.
Additionally, the medical team collaborated with a local foundation to provide free treatment to cataract patients who couldn't afford the 2,000 yuan (US$280) surgery fee.
Xie also offers evening training sessions to local eye doctors to enhance their skills in treating eye wounds. After completing a two-month program led by Xie, four doctors from Loeri Comba Hospital are now independently treating eye conditions.
The medical team has also organized health lectures in local communities on the prevention of eye conditions.
On April 6, 1963, China's first medical team was dispatched from Beijing to Algeria. Since then, team after team of Chinese doctors have been working in Africa, offering much-needed medical aid and services to local people.