China Reaffirms Commitment to Botswana Healthcare as New Medical Team Arrives

 

China has reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to strengthening Botswana's healthcare system, welcoming the 18th Chinese Medical Team while bidding farewell to the 17th team during a reception hosted at the Chinese Embassy in Gaborone.

Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong described the occasion as a celebration of both gratitude and hope, highlighting the enduring friendship between the two countries and the significant role healthcare has played in bilateral cooperation over the past four decades.

The ambassador noted that the partnership in health dates back 45 years, when China dispatched its first medical team to Botswana in 1981. Since then, 18 successive medical teams comprising more than 600 specialists have served in the country, providing treatment to over three million patients while working alongside local healthcare professionals.

He said the contribution of the Chinese Medical Teams extends beyond clinical services, with a strong emphasis on transferring skills to Botswana's doctors and nurses through mentorship, hospital partnerships and professional training.

According to Fan, the long-term objective has been to strengthen Botswana's healthcare system by ensuring that expertise remains in the country long after each medical team completes its assignment.

The ambassador also placed Botswana's programme within China's broader medical cooperation across Africa. He revealed that China has, over the past six decades, deployed more than 31,000 medical professionals to 48 African countries, providing healthcare services to nearly 300 million patients while helping to train thousands of local medical workers.

Currently, 44 Chinese Medical Teams comprising 863 medical professionals are serving across 94 medical sites in 43 African countries.

Paying tribute to the departing 17th Chinese Medical Team, Fan thanked its members for their dedication, professionalism and compassion during their two-year assignment in Botswana. He said they had worked tirelessly alongside Botswana health workers, saving lives and strengthening the friendship between the two nations.

'They have not only healed bodies but also touched hearts, leaving behind many friends in Botswana who will always remember their contribution,' he said.

The ambassador also officially welcomed the newly arrived 18th Chinese Medical Team, which reached Botswana on June 27. The team consists of 46 medical professionals selected from leading hospitals in China's Fujian Province.

Of the new contingent, 25 specialists will be stationed at Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, while the remaining 21 will serve at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in Francistown over the next two years.

Fan encouraged the new team to uphold the tradition of the Chinese Medical Mission by delivering quality healthcare while deepening cooperation with Botswana's medical professionals.

Looking ahead, he announced several new initiatives aimed at expanding health cooperation between the two countries under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. These include a partnership programme between Fujian Provincial Hospital and Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital, as well as a cataract surgery project intended to improve access to specialist eye care.

The ambassador further announced that the Chinese Embassy would donate five pieces of medical equipment valued at approximately P180,000 to Botswana's Ministry of Health. The equipment includes a multi-parameter patient monitor, an automated external defibrillator, a portable ECG monitor and two syringe pumps.

He said the donation reflects China's continued commitment to strengthening Botswana's healthcare capacity and improving patient care.

Fan also highlighted the steady growth of bilateral relations, noting that Botswana and China elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2024 before jointly celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2025.

He expressed confidence that cooperation between the two countries would continue to expand, particularly in healthcare, through knowledge sharing, institutional partnerships and capacity building.

The ambassador concluded by thanking Botswana's Ministry of Health, Ministry of International Relations, Princess Marina Hospital, Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital and other government institutions for their continued support of the Chinese Medical Teams over the years, expressing optimism that the incoming team would receive the same level of cooperation during its assignment.