The Chinese government Thursday donated a number of medical equipment worth more than 64 million Tanzanian Shillings (about US$49,000) to Tanzania's Zanzibar government through the Chinese medical team working in the Indian Ocean Archipelago.

The equipment was handed over by Zhu Xiangjun, head of the Chinese medical team, to Zanzibar Minister of Health and Social Welfare Sultan Mohd Mughery at a ceremony which was held at the ministry of Health in Zanzibar.

Including medical endoscope Co light Source, high Frequency position, therapeutic apparatus for operation, Some of the equipmentare meant to serve in the theater at Mnazimmoja general hospital, while the others would serve in the eye clinics, it was learned.

In his remarks, Zhu said the donation of the equipment is a further indication to boost the historical medical cooperation between the Chinese government and that of Zanzibar.

"The equipment, we believe, would boost medical services in Zanzibar hospitals and clinics especially at this time when Zanzibar has been without power for the last three months," he remarked.

For his part, Mughery thanked the Chinese government for its long stand in helping Zanzibar economically and socially especially on the medical services.

He further said the team of Chinese medical experts working in Zanzibar are providing a helping hand in the health centers.

Chinese Zanzibar medical cooperation has started since 1968, while there are at present a team of 21 doctors working in different hospitals and clinics both in Unguja and Pemba, the sister island.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2010)