By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Eleventh batch of Chinese medical experts deployed to Juba Teaching Hospital has initiated language training program for South Sudanese health professionals.
This initiative aims to equip local doctors with basic Chinese communication skills to enhance patient care.
The four-week course, consisting of two lessons per week, will be led by the Chinese medical team.
For over a decade, the Chinese government has supported South Sudan’s healthcare sector through medical supplies and Juba Teaching Hospital upgrades.
At the program’s launch, Mr. Mu Jianjun, the Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan, emphasized the program’s multifaceted benefits.
“This program not only fosters improved communication between Chinese medical professionals and their South Sudanese counterparts but also strengthens ties between our two nations in term of our cultures exchange,” he stated.
Over the past twelve years, China has sent eleven medical teams to South Sudan. These teams have provided over 7,000 outpatient and emergency services, performed 95 surgeries, and trained more than 1,200 local medical personnel.
Additionally, they have fostered cultural exchange through free medical consultations and visits to orphanages.
“We encourage more local friends to join our Chinese language classes. China-South Sudan medical cooperation has immense potential for further growth,” Mr. Mu Jianjun remarked.
“We hope that through this language training, China and South Sudan can achieve deeper mutual understanding, strengthen people-to-people bonds, and promote practical cooperation, ultimately building a strong China-Africa community with a shared future.”
Cheni Si, the Team Leader of the eleventh batch, highlighted the course’s cultural benefits.
“The training will enable participants to gain basic understanding of Chinese culture and ask for necessities such as food and entertainment,” he explained.
Gift Gibson Natana, Deputy Director General of Juba Teaching Hospital, emphasized the importance of language learning for healthcare professionals. “Language is a bridge that connects people,” he advised the participants.
“Learning Chinese can also open doors to employment opportunities in other countries.”
“The Chinese government offers limited opportunities for our doctors to travel to China and learn about Chinese culture,” Natana continued.
“I am living proof of this benefit. I have travelled to China several times. Take this course seriously, and I am confident you will enjoy the experience if you get the chance to go to China.”