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Overview

Chinese Government sends 3rd medical team to Kiribati

Commitment Year•2023Country of Activity•KiribatiDirect Recipient Country of Incorporation•KiribatiSector•HealthFlow Type•Free-standing technical assistance

Status

Project lifecycle

Completion

Pipeline: PledgePipeline: CommitmentImplementationCompletion

Timeline

Key dates

Commitment date
Dec 9, 2023
Start (actual)
Dec 9, 2023
End (actual)
Dec 12, 2024

Geospatial footprint

Map overview

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The Chinese medical teams are stationed at Tungaru Central Hospital (TCH) in South Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati. TCH serves as the country's primary national referral hospital. More detailed locational information can be found at: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/223383917

Stakeholders

Organizations involved in projects and activities supported by financial and in-kind transfers from Chinese government and state-owned entities

Funding agencies

Government Agencies

  • National Health Commission of China

Receiving agencies

Government Agencies

  • Government of Kiribati

Miscellaneous Agency Types

  • Tungaru Central Hospital

Implementing agencies

Government Agencies

  • Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University
  • Shandong Provincial Government
  • Shandong University

Loan desecription

Chinese Government sends 3rd medical team to Kiribati

Narrative

Full Description

Project narrative

In 2021, the National Health Commission of China appointed the Shandong Provincial Health Commission to form a foreign aid medical team to assist Kiribati following the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries. On December 9, 2023, Shandong Province sent the third Chinese medical team to Kiribati for a one-year medical aid mission based at Tungaru Central Hospital (TCH) in Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati. The team consisted of five medical professionals from various specialties: Dr. Wang Zhanqing (Team Leader, Emergency Medicine, Yantai Hospital Affiliated to Binzhou Medical College); Dr. Zhen Changqing (Internal Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University); Dr. Zhao Shanshan (Anesthesiology, Second Hospital of Shandong University); Dr. Zhao Yuying (Radiology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital – Dezhou Branch); and Dr. Sun Hui (Sonography, Binzhou Central Hospital). At Tungaru Central Hospital (TCH), they carried out a wide range of clinical duties, including diagnosis and treatment, anesthesia, imaging services, and emergency care. They also introduced new technologies, supported the dissemination of traditional Chinese medicine, and delivered free medical services to the public, particularly through community outreach and clinical capacity building. Cumulatively, by February 2024, the three Chinese medical teams stationed in Kiribati since 2022 had collectively treated 9,337 outpatients, 4,542 inpatients, provided emergency care to 646 critically ill patients, administered anesthesia to 1,484 individuals, performed 35 surgeries, conducted 5,587 ultrasound exams, 922 CT scans, and 158 X-rays, conducted 13 free clinics, served 989 individuals during free clinics, and provided training to 378 local medical personnel. A farewell ceremony was held on November 27, 2024, co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Kiribati and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS). Acting Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jian and Kiribati Health Minister Navan presented certificates and medals of appreciation to the team. The third medical team returned to Jinan, China, on December 12, 2024.