Feature: When duty calls, a Chinese medic faces rigors of rural Uganda

Thousands of kilometers away from home, Li Canzhang, an orthopedics surgeon endures the scorching sun in a remote fishing village on the shores at Lake Albert that is shared by Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Away from the operating theaters back in China and his duty station in the Ugandan capital Kampala, Li's mission is to offer treatment to the hundreds of patients in a remote village.

Despite its breathtaking scenery, especially the protective escarpment that is as high as 400 meters, the health services in Buhuka village located in the frontier district of Hoima are deplorable with only one health center. Accessing this village is either by boat or walking down the steep escarpment. The sick and pregnant mothers have to walk uphill to access better health services.

"I am very glad to be here to provide health service to the local people. We are happy for the kindness Ugandans have accorded us. We have never had this experience in Africa like here," Li told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Speaking through an interpreter, Li carefully listens to patients as others in a long queue wait for their turn. Although it is fast approaching Li's break time, the patients, among whom include children and the aged, are not ready to give up. They continue to queue. They come with all sorts of ailments ranging from tuberculosis to arthritis, malaria.

"Africa is very different from China. In this place, there are very few doctors, no medicine. So the Chinese government sent us here to provide medical and technical help," Li said.

"We are here to give them medical service and we are proud of it. The government sent us here to serve the Ugandans and it is our responsibility as doctors," he added.

Jane Makune, 53, could not hide her excitement about the medical camp. She argued that although it is a one day event, it saved them from walking up the escarpment to seek health services.

"We are very happy that they have brought the medical camp here. We find it hard to climb the escarpment," she said while patiently waiting for her turn to see Li. She has backache.

Back in Yunnan Province in China, Li left there his wife and daughter. When duty called, he had to leave them and head for Africa.

"I miss my wife. I miss my daughter so much," Li said when asked about his family thousands of kilometers away.

China has for the last over 30 years been sending medical teams to Uganda. More than 15 Chinese medical teams totaling to 147 specialists have worked side by side with Ugandan doctors to treat patients. Endi