Fresh medical team heads for Papua New Guinea

The 11th Chinese medical aid team to Papua New Guinea departed from Chongqing on Tuesday to take over the duties of the 10th team. It will provide medical aid at Port Moresby General Hospital in the country's capital for one year.

Entrusted by the Chinese government in 2002, Chongqing sent the first medical team to PNG. It was the first Chinese team to be sent to the South Pacific region.

The 10-member team, with an average age of 39, includes eight medical workers, a translator and a cook.

"During the stay in PNG from July 2018 to August 2019, the team established the Urology Minimally Invasive Treatment Center in Port Moresby's General Hospital. That helped the country take a big leap in urology surgery," said He Weiyang, leader of the ninth Chinese medical aid team.

According to the Chongqing Health Commission, the city has sent 11 medical teams — a total of 109 people — to PNG from 2002 to March 2021.

Besides doing routine clinical work, the team will bring advanced domestic clinical diagnosis and treatment technology to PNG, help fight COVID-19 and provide medical services for overseas Chinese residents.