By Lerato Matheka
MASERU — Lesotho bid farewell to 15 Chinese doctors who had served at Queen Elizabeth II hospital for the past two years on Tuesday.
The doctors received certificates of accomplishment during a farewell party at the Chinese Embassy in Maseru.
The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Lerato Khoeli, expressed gratitude for the support China has given to Lesotho over the years.
She said the ministry has a shortage of health professionals of all categories and this impacts negatively on carrying out its mandate as dictated by the global and regional commitments.
“It further makes it difficult to remain faithful to our health targets as contained in various documents such as the vision 2020 and the health strategic plan.”
Khoeli added: “The Chinese government has come in handy by sending us medical teams through a protocol between the government of Lesotho and the People’s Republic of China that was signed in March 2009.”
She said one of the doctors’ strengths was trying to learn Sesotho and Basotho culture.
“Their interest in our culture and our language has enabled them to interact well with Basotho doctors and transfer their skills.”
The Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho, Hu Dingxian, said in the two years of the doctor’s services, a total of 85 055 patients were treated.
“With Lesotho’s high HIV prevalence, the Chinese doctors face the threat of being infected but this has never been a hold back for them to serve the Basotho nation,” he said.
“Their dedication has shown professional ethics and their devotion in making a difference.”
Over 47 years 17 000 Chinese medical doctors have served in 48 African countries since 1964.
“This initiative by China is intended to provide development of public health in the African countries,” Dingxian said.
About 200 million Africa patients have received medical treatment from Chinese doctors in Africa over the past few years, he added.
The ambassador congratulated the 15 doctors for their hard work in Lesotho.
“Your selfless work has strengthened the relationship between China and Lesotho and we thank you,” he said.
On behalf of the doctors, Zhang Hang Shen, thanked the government of Lesotho for its warm hospitality and the Chinese embassy for making them feel at home during their stay.
“We came to Lesotho with one purpose of doing our best and serving the public with devotion. Basotho people made it very easy for us with their warm friendship and reception,” he said.
The ceremony was spiced up by the Queen II superintenden Dr Maama Mojela who took to the stage and sang a song in Chinese.