Doctor’s insight supports aid in Zambia
Military physician’s manual, based on his experiences, offers guidance to teams visiting Africa
“He called us ‘my doctor’ and then shook hands three times with each of us, the highest courtesy when welcoming guests in Zambia,” said Zhai Wenliang, recalling his meeting with Kenneth Kaunda, the first president of Zambia.
Kaunda’s sitting room was decorated with Chinese paintings and calligraphy. Every visiting Chinese doctor has brought Kaunda some Chinese medicine, which is why he calls us “his doctors”, Zhai said.
China has sent 20 teams of doctors to Zambia to perform medical work and train local counterparts since 1984.
Zhai is an orthopedic surgeon from the 175th Military Hospital of China in Zhangzhou, Fujian province. From Jan 21, 2013, to Jan 28, 2014, he was the head and Party secretary of the 16th military medical aid team at the Maina Soko Military Hospital in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.
“We had the same food every day — potatoes, onions and cabbage. Sudden water and electricity shutdowns for two or three days happened often. We lacked drinking water, let alone water to take a shower,” he said.
Three days after Zhai’s team arrived in Lusaka, they had to treat an AIDS patient who had a broken bone and damaged muscle tissue in his right leg. At the risk of HIV infection, the team completed the surgery in three hours.
“In China, doctors are nervous when we encounter someone with AIDS or cholera. But it is common in Zambia. We usually had more than 10 patients with AIDS in a week,” Zhai said.
During his year in Lusaka, his team conducted about 400 operations, 35 percent of which involved patients with AIDS.
The local working day is six hours, but the Chinese medics usually worked more than 12 hours a day because so many patients came due to their good reputation.
“Sometimes we were too tired to stand up straight after a full day of surgery, but we felt proud to represent Chinese military doctors,” Zhai said.
In June 2013, the team organized a physical examination for 160 students from Lusaka International School, which was not a normal occurrence in the country due to poor healthcare.
“Those cheerful kids were curious about Chinese doctors. Even the local media came to cover the activity, and we knew we had won people’s hearts,” he said.
Apart from providing regular medical services, Zhai also encouraged his team to impart knowledge that could benefit Zambia in the long run.
They helped local doctors master 15 new techniques, and each team member trained at least two local medical workers during the year they were in Zambia.
Before they returned to China, Zhai’s team was awarded the International Cooperation of Defense Medal by Zambia’s Ministry of Defense.
Life in a foreign country can be difficult, especially if living conditions are hard. “When I was in Zambia, I realized
Sometimes we were too tired to stand up straight after a full day of surgery, but we felt proud to represent Chinese military doctors.”
Zhai Wenliang,
many Chinese people have devoted their lives to helping others overseas,” Zhai said.
“For example, the teachers in the Confucius Institute and ambassadors and engineers who helped Zambia with construction projects.”
To help other doctors in the future, he wrote a book, Zambian Aid: Military Doctor’s Manual, based on his team’s experiences.
“I remember we left for Zambia before Spring Festival in 2013 without knowing much about the local situation,” Zhai said. “Now, the 21st team of doctors is preparing to leave soon, and I’m happy to know they will be using the manual we made.”