Main: A view of the Kananka National Park in Zambia File photo: VCG

Top: A view of a China-Africa investment forum in Changsha, capital of Central China's Hunan Province in June. Photo: VCG

Bottom: Chinese and Zambian workers at a copper smelter in Ndola, Zambia. File photo: VCG

 

When Gong Meiling first visited Zambia in the early 1990s as part of the China Medical Team, little did he know that the visit was the start of his long stay in the southern African nation.

He was a member of the 7th and 9th batches of the China Medical Teams, where he even served as vice-captain. He came to Zambia twice to provide  medical assistance in 1992 and 1994.

However, his visit opened his eyes to the deplorable state of medical conditions at Thompson Hospital in Luanshya town in the Copperbelt Province.

He was exposed to the worst medical conditions he had experienced, which were worsened by an outbreak of cholera in the town, leaving his team with no option but to do what they could to help the sick.

Although the experience led to the death of one of the Chinese doctors, who succumbed to excessive fatigue and liver disease recurrence, the doctors battled against the cholera outbreak, Gong recalls.

Despite the great difficulties, the team worked hard to help save sick people. For Gong, he took it upon himself to settle in Zambia in order to help improve the situation.

"I [worked] for the Medical Team for more than four years. I feel that Zambia's medical conditions are backward and need us very much. So after the Medical Team's work, I decided to stay in Zambia and start this clinic to continue servicing the health of the Zambian people," Gong, who runs Rong Zeng Clinic in Lusaka, the country's capital, told the Xinhua News Agency in recent days.

The 80-year-old doctor said he has been running his clinic for the last 22 years, during which time he has attended to about 160,000 patients for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.

"The medical fee here is flexible and can be exempted. I am very happy to do something for the local people. I want to continue to work hard to do what I can do for the health of the Zambian people and overseas Chinese, and for the friendship between the two peoples," he said.

In 2015, Gong represented the China Medical Team to accept the first "China Ambassadors Friendship Award," an honor that only those Chinese who make significant contribution to Zambia's development are entitled to.

Main motivation

Despite his advancing age, the doctor's passion to help people has been his motivation for staying in Zambia.

According to him, apart from treating patients, he also shares his knowledge with locals of how they can take care of their health themselves and prevent diseases.

His medical skills and work ethic have not escaped the recognition of his patients, who showered him with praise.

Christopher Siakakole, 65, who has been Gong's patient since 1999, commended the Chinese doctor for his work ethic and the efficacy of Chinese medicine.

"Because the doctor is very good, their medicine is very good. It works very well. So far, from 1999 up to this time, I am still very healthy because of the medicine which they gave me," he said.

He said he has been coming to Gong's clinic because he has confidence in him, adding that he has also been taking his family.

Carlos Moyo Caroso, another patient, had praise for the doctor, saying she was happy with his experience and service.

"We are happy with his service, service here is very good," she said.

Gong, who still goes running every day, is just one of the Chinese doctors working to help improve the health system in Zambia.

Since 1978, the Chinese government has sent 21 Medical Teams and 574 Medical Team members to Zambia. The teams have treated more than 3 million patients, carried out more than 20,000 types of surgeries, and introduced and implemented more than 700 new technologies and projects.