A team of health experts from China arrived at Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, after a flight of more than 30 hours on December 11, 2016.

An innovative project -- focusing on women and children's health -- was launched at the Parirenyatwa General Hospital, the largest medical centre in Zimbabwe, with the help of Chinese doctors specialized in cervical disease prevention.

Local health authorities in Central China's Hunan province were in charge of the project.

"Fifteen groups of health personnel from Hunan province have been sent to Zimbabwe since 1985," said Jiang Rongzhi, deputy director in charge of the international exchanges at the Hunan provincial health authorities.

"They were sent to promote public health in Zimbabwe, and maternal and children health care is an important part of it," he added.

Research shows that cervical cancer accounts for more than 22 percent of the cancers suffered by females.

UN-supported cervical cancer screening in the country, though carried out for six years, has not been wide-spread because of economic factors.

Furthermore, fewer than 50 percent of the cases, once detected, were well treated.

Even at Parirenyatwa General Hospital, equipment for HPV and TCT detection and treatment is insufficient.

After launching the project, the maternity and child health hospital in Hunan province donated equipment, medical consumables and medicine to the hospital.

In January of 2018, s second group of health experts were sent to Zimbabwe to offer free checks for cervical cancer.

China's top representatives to the Global Women's Summit in 2015 promised to carry out 100 projects to facilitate women and children's health in developing countries in the next five years.

The project reflects China’s contribution to the UN's Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals.