Chu Hailin uses acupuncture to treat a patient in the TCM consulting room in Namibia on Nov 5. [Photo/ Xinhua]

"Many people ask me why I joined the medical team to Africa again. I think it's a responsibility for my country, and a love for Africa. I do this from my heart. I'll be here again if I have the chance next time," said Chu Hailin, who is in Namibia, for the third time, to provide medical assistance.

Chu, 51, was a member of the medical team to Namibia in 2008 and 2012. In 2018, he returned there as the head of the medical team. His wife Cai Xiaoying, once again went to Africa as a nurse in the team.

Launched by the Zhejiang health authority, the medical assistance to Namibia program was started in 1996. Two doctors and two nurses are dispatched to Namibia each time to provide medical services for two years at a national hospital in the capital of Windhoek.

Since the arrival of the first Chinese medical team, there has been a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) consulting room at the hospital.

Chu worked at Zhejiang Chinese Medical University before going abroad, taking part in both teaching and clinical practice." After working in Africa, I found more extensive application of TCM. I work like a duck here, because I can make good use of my expertise."

He told the media that TCM has more branches in domestic hospitals and there are limited kinds of diseases applicable to treatment methods such as acupuncture and massage. But in Africa, more diseases can be seen, so the application scope of TCM therapy is greatly extended.

"Our traditional Chinese medicine therapies, such as acupuncture, massage and cupping, have been widely used here and have achieved very good results. We are very happy to have relieved the sufferings of our patients by treating them," said Chu.

As an experienced doctor and professor of TCM, Chu promoted the norms of Chinese acupuncture and massage in Namibia, such as aseptic operations as well as diagnostic and treatment criterion, which has won him trust and credit.

Namibian patients also changed their views on TCM from non-trusting to a gradual understanding.

Chu said that local patients did not trust TCM at first, often coming with a try-it attitude, and do not understand how the therapy works. "It is only through our treatment and explanation that they understand that TCM acupuncture and massage are purely physical therapies and have no chemical ingredients."

After 23 years of development, the TCM consulting room has become famous and popular among local people. There are nearly 70 patients each day on average, more than 100 people on busy days, said Chu.

Cai, Chu's wife, has been with him for six years in Africa.

"Our families are worried about the security in Africa, but the work needs to be done. We have a high sense of honor to participate in foreign aid services, especially in Africa, a place with a shortage of medical services," said Cai. "Everything is of real worth because we can play our role in relieving the sufferings of local patients and help them to have a new understanding of China.”