CHANGSHA -- A Chinese medical team on Sept 17 departed for Sierra Leone from Changsha, capital city of central China's Hunan Province, to provide one-year medical aid to the African country.

The team consists of 20 members, who are specialized in areas including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, gynecology, obstetrics, and traditional Chinese medicine. Some of them are also experienced in dealing with the COVID-19 epidemic.

It is the 22nd medical team since Hunan sent doctors to Sierra Leone in 1973.

Another 10-member medical team from Hunan is slated to leave for Zimbabwe on Sept. 26 to provide healthcare services, according to the Hunan provincial health commission.

"The medical teams to Africa have helped forged the friendship between Chinese and African people," said Long Kaichao, deputy director of the commission, adding that the members will strive to improve the medical treatment and public health services in Africa through their dedication.