Chinese medical team donates supplies to Namibian children

Members of a Chinese medical team pose for a group photo with children of the SOS Children's Village in Windhoek, Namibia, Dec. 11, 2023. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

The 15th batch of the Chinese medical team at the acupuncture department at the Katutura State Hospital in the Namibian capital, Windhoek, donated stationery and gifts to SOS Children's Village on Monday.

WINDHOEK, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The 15th batch of the Chinese medical team at the acupuncture department at the Katutura State Hospital in the Namibian capital, Windhoek, donated stationery and gifts to SOS Children's Village here on Monday.

SOS Children's Village, a non-governmental organization, provides care to children and young people without or at risk of losing parental care.

The items included stationery, school uniforms and clothing for 33 children. Additionally, the Chinese doctors examined the children's teeth and offered acupuncture treatments to enhance their physical well-being.

A member of a Chinese medical team examines a child at the SOS Children's Village in Windhoek, Namibia, Dec. 11, 2023. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

Li Bangwei, the Chinese medical team leader, said the move aimed to promote the local community's well-being.

"We aim to provide relief and comfort to the local community through gifts and acupuncture, a healing practice that has long been recognized for its benefits," Li said.

In addition to the children, seven mothers caring for the children received gifts donated by local Chinese businessman Charles Cui.

"This gift complements the traditional-Chinese-medicine treatment and highlights the importance of supporting those who provide love and care to these young children. When the mothers are healthy and happy, it positively impacts the well-being of the children," he said.

Julieta Ferreira, interim national director of the SOS Children's Village that houses 73 children, expressed gratitude for the donation and treatment provided by the Chinese medical team.

"This gesture brings joy to the children and helps offset some of the costs associated with their care. It is heart-warming to witness such support from our community, particularly as we enter the festive period," she said.

A member of a Chinese medical team provides acupuncture treatment at the SOS Children's Village in Windhoek, Namibia, Dec. 11, 2023. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

One of the mothers taking care of the children at SOS, Angeline Katjiteo, who has been at the organization for seven years, expressed her appreciation for undergoing acupuncture treatment for the first time. For her, the treatment and donation served as a reminder of the long-standing cordial relationship between China and Namibia.

Since their arrival in February this year, the 15th batch of the Chinese medical team has treated 8,600 patients, with an average of 60-70 people visiting the clinic each day.

Since 1996, traditional Chinese medical practitioners have been stationed at Katutura Hospital, as an integral component of collaborative healthcare initiatives between China and Namibia.