Niël Terblanché
Walvis Bay recently became the stage for a significant advancement in Sino-Namibian relations as the governments of Namibia and China unveiled the China-Namibia paired hospital cooperation mechanism at the Walvis Bay State Hospital.
The launch was accompanied by a generous donation from the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, with medical equipment valued at N$1.07 million.
The assortment of medical devices, including advanced ventilators, patient and defibrillation monitors, neonatal incubators, and portable suction units, is a tangible boost to Namibia’s healthcare capabilities.
Additionally, the donation also includes a telemedicine collaboration platform and a cloud imaging system, setting the stage for a digital leap in patient care and diagnostic services.
The Chief Medical Officer for the Erongo Regional Health Directorate, Leonard Kabongo, expressed gratitude for the bilateral initiative aimed at enhancing healthcare quality in the nation.
He also welcomed the plan to install CT scan equipment at Walvis Bay State Hospital by next year. The scanning equipment will address the current void of such critical diagnostic services at the coast. The new equipment will eliminate the need to send patients to hospitals in Windhoek.
The telemedicine service is particularly groundbreaking, promising a virtual bridge between medical professionals in Walvis Bay and their counterparts in Hangzhou.
Wei Jinming, the Economic and Commercial Affairs Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Namibia, said the arrangement is the successful culmination of the paired hospital cooperation mechanism and described the agreement as a milestone in the ongoing medical partnership between the two nations.
The event, which welcomed Namibian dignitaries and medical experts, along with the 15th Chinese medical team, was not just a testament to international cooperation but also a reaffirmation of China’s long-standing commitment to supporting health services in Africa. Wang Renyuan, representing the Health Commission of Zhejiang Province, said that the potential for this collaboration is to propel the high-quality development of the partnership between China and Namibia. He encouraged ongoing collective efforts, envisaging a future where the bonds of cooperation extend beyond the current contributions, fostering a deeper, more integrated alliance in medical and health services.
