Chinese medical team hands over medical aids to Rwandan hospital

KIGALI, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The 18th Chinese Medical Team in Rwanda on Tuesday handed over medical aids to Masaka Hospital, located in the Rwandan capital city Kigali.

The aids included anesthesia machine, operating table and monitor among others in line with an agreement between the governments of China and Rwanda. The medical team also provided other medical materials including acupuncture needles, orthopedic steel plates, dental instruments to the hospital, according to the chief of the medical team Lu Jun.

China has been providing medical aids to Rwanda on an annual basis and China is one of few countries that dispatch resident medical team to Rwanda, said Zhang Liyong, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, at the handing over ceremony.

"Members of the Chinese medical team travelled thousands of miles to Rwanda to serve Rwandan people that reflects friendship between China and Rwanda," he said.

Masaka Hospital, also built with financing by the Chinese government, is a good example of friendly cooperation between China and Rwanda, said Zhang, adding that the latest aid supplies were another proof of the cooperation between the two countries.

Chairman of Board of Directors of Masaka Hospital Subira Eulican, Director of Masaka Hospital Marcel Uwizeye and Vice Mayor of Kigali's Kicukiro District Emmanuel Baingana attended the ceremony. They expressed their gratitude towards China.

Eulican said he expected further cooperation with China, adding that the hospital could serve as an example even for Africa-China cooperation.

Starting functioning in 2011, Masaka Hospital mainly serves as a district hospital and provides medical service to over 300,000 people living in Kicukiro, according to the hospital director Uwizeye.

Most of the equipment used in the hospital are donated by China, he said. Enditem