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Roundup: Chinese medical aid makes a difference in Caribbean

Xinhua, April 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

In the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, a group of Chinese doctors have been saving lives with their specialized medical services.

The 10-member group of Chinese medical experts, mainly neurosurgeons from Beijing's Tiantan Hospital, arrived in the Caribbean country in January, as part of a second team of Chinese doctors stationed there.

During a visit to Trinidad and Tobago in June 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that some 100 medical specialists would be dispatched to the Caribbean over the next three years.

The announcement was followed by a protocol signed between the two countries in February 2014.

Jia Wang, head of the team, told Xinhua that his colleagues began to work immediately after arrival and have treated more than 700 patients in the first three weeks.

The team, working out of the San Fernando General Hospital in southern Trinidad and Tobago, has come to be well regarded across both islands.

Initially, local doctors had little confidence in their Chinese counterparts, but the team won over both the local doctors and their patients with their outstanding medical skills and dedication.

In fact, some patients specifically asked to have the Chinese doctors perform their surgeries, while local doctors recommended family members and relatives see the Chinese experts, said Jia.

Trinidad and Tobago lacks experienced doctors in neurosurgery, so a number of patients with severe conditions were treated by the Chinese medical team, which succeeded in saving many lives, said Jia.

San Fernando General Hospital is very satisfied with the visiting team, which is also providing its medical staff with relevant training, and is looking forward to welcoming more Chinese doctors, said Mohan Ramjit, general manager of the hospital.

"On behalf of the government of Trinidad and Tobago, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your excellent work," said Kamla Persad-Bissessar, prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

China has sent medical teams to 66 countries and regions since 1963, treating some 260 million people in Asia, Africa and Europe, according to China's National Health Commission. Endi