Friendship hospital brings expertise to Africa

CONAKRY, Guinea — Morning light streams through the windows of the newly opened medical complex at the Sino-Guinean Friendship Hospital in Conakry. Radiologist Liu Peng and her Guinean colleague Amelie Lamah examine spinal scans on a 1.5-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine, seamlessly switching between French and Chinese as they work.

This moment of teamwork captures the daily rhythm at one of Guinea's largest public hospitals, and a flagship Chinese aid project. Since 1963, China has sent over 25,000 medical team members to 48 African countries, treating more than 230 million patients and winning the hearts of the African people with dedication.

They have been working to fight Ebola outbreaks, improve medical procedures and train generations of local professionals, shifting the focus from short-term aid to sustainable empowerment.

In March 2025, the 31st Chinese medical team arrived at the hospital, comprising 24 specialists from Beijing Friendship Hospital, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission and the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control. More than half hold senior titles or doctorates. Beyond traditional expertise, they brought technologies such as orthopedic artificial intelligence planners and surgical robots.

"The AI system enables precise joint replacement modeling," said team leader Wang Bin, adding that although Guinea's intermittent power supply poses a challenge, the team is developing joint protocols with local staff to ensure stable application and long-term adaptability.

Hands-on knowledge transfer continues across departments: Guinean surgeons hone their joint replacement skills under Chinese guidance, and traditional medicine experts explore acupuncture treatments.

Cooperation of this kind has grown through decades of engagement. Since 1968, Chinese doctors have trained thousands of African medical professionals through hands-on clinical mentoring and exchange programs.

Lamah, director of the hospital's radiology department, said their "diagnostic capabilities keep improving through this partnership".

The hospital's August 2023 expansion marked a major milestone, doubling clinical capacity through new Chinese-built facilities that now serve dual purposes: elevating patient care standards while creating advanced training opportunities for medical professionals. "Better infrastructure benefits both patients and medical advancement," said Mohamed Diane, director general of the Sino-Guinean Friendship Hospital.

Wang reflected on the long-running partnership: "For 57 years, every Beijing medical team has shared one goal — making technology take root here."

Xinhua