Chinese medical team at Masaka Hospital commended for advancing healthcare in Rwanda

By Africa China Review Staff writer

Nurse Wangyingmin (left) and Dr. Bailingxiao (right) examining a patient at Masaka Hospital. Photo: August 4, (Africa China Review)

As China and Rwanda get closer to celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relationship, Africa China Review visited Masaka Hospital located a few kilometres outside the Rwandan capital city Kigali, which was built on China aid to Rwanda. The local population in the area fondly call the hospital a Chinese hospital. The Chinese doctors and nurses work along their Rwandan counterparts in diagnosis and treatment of hundreds of patients. Masaka hospital serves as a referral hospital that admits patients from 10 health centres located in Kicukiro district and others from Rwamagana and Gasabo neighbouring districts.

In an interview the Clinical Director for Health Sciences Dr GACUTI Hervé Patchéri told Africachinareview that Masaka hospital has a long period working with Chinese medical teams. “The hospital is very well known by the citizens as Chinese hospital, many of them don’t know the name of Masaka District hospital, Chinese started with this hospital and they help us in many services beyond giving us the specialised medical doctors every year. They give us different types of medical equipment such as beds, laboratory and diagnostic machines.”

Dr GACUTI Hervé commended the partnership they have built with the Chinese medical teams over the years, and in particular the role of the Chinese doctors in sharing experiences on how to prevent the spread of the pandemic during the fight against COVID-19. “I appreciate very much that kind of partnership between the two governments.” He also expressed the desire for Rwandan medic doctors to go in China to learn more about healthcare technics and to learn about application of traditional medicine in health care services.

Dr. Wu Yao the leader of the 21^st batch of Chinese medial team in Rwanda said that since the medical cooperation started in 1982, the Chinese medical teams are happy to serve in Rwanda to improve the health of the people. He also appreciated the cooperation between the governments of China and Rwanda in advancing health care in Rwanda.

Dr. Wu Yao the head of the 21^st Chinese medical team

Masaka hospital has the capacity to serve both in-patients and out-patients. Services offered include internal medicine services, surgical, paediatric services, and neonatology, maternity, ear, nose and throat (ENT), Ophthalmology, dentistry and physiotherapy. The Chinese doctors also treat patients using Chinese traditional medicine and technics known as acupuncture.

Masaka Hospital. Photo: August 4, (Africa China Review)

China and Rwanda have enjoyed excellent diplomatic ties in the last 50 years, and the cooperation in the medical field has been growing over the years. Apart from China sending medical teams to Rwanda, there are a number of Rwandan students who have been offered scholarship to study medicine in Chinese Universities. Some of the graduates are working in different hospitals and government departments in the country.