Shanxi sends medics to reduce cataract blindness in Djibouti

The second Shanxi medical team sent to assist the African country of Djibouti in eliminating cataract blindness set off on Oct 5 from Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province. 

The medical assignment, which will be carried out by eight medics from Shanxi Eye Hospital, is expected to last for over 60 days. 

2023 marks the 60th anniversary of China's foreign medical aid program. Since the first Chinese medical team was dispatched abroad in 1963, 30,000 medical professionals have been sent to 76 countries and regions to carry out international medical assistance. In recent years, China has also operated extensive short-term free clinics in Africa.

Lian Yuesheng, deputy director of the Shanxi Health Commission, stated that since 1981, Shanxi has dispatched 22 medical teams to Djibouti, establishing a deep friendship with the local government and people, which has laid a strong foundation for various short-term foreign medical aid activities.

The campaign to eliminate blindness caused by cataracts in Djibouti is managed by the Shanxi Health Commission in cooperation with the Hong Kong-based GX Foundation. 

In February of this year, seven medics from Shanxi were sent to Djibouti to carry out the campaign, successfully completing 443 surgeries and receiving high praise from the local government and people. 

"We expect to perform 6,000 to 7,000 cataract surgeries free of charge in Djibouti within the next 3 to 5 years," Lian added.