Chinese Government dispatches 27th medical team to to Jendouba, Sidi Bouzid, Gafsa and Tunis

Project narrative

On December 28, 2022, the 27th Chinese (Jiangxi) medical team arrived in Tunisia, taking over the work of the 26th medical team. The team was sent in alignment with the 2022 protocol agreement for the dispatch of Chinese medical teams to Tunisia (2021-2026), signed by the Chinese Embassy and Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The team consisted of 38 members, including doctors from various specialties — such as general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, radiology, pediatrics, orthopedics, acupuncture, cardiology, and ophthalmology — as well as professors who led teaching initiatives. The team was split between four hospitals: 11 members were sent to Jendouba Regional Hospital, 12 worked at Sidi Bouzid Regional Hospital. 7 worked at Houcine Bouzaiene Regional Hospital, and 8 worked at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Center at Mongi Slim Hospital, specializing in acupuncture. As per the 2022 agreement, the Chinese government donated any medical equipment and tools needed by the team, and the donated supplies were also exempt from customs duties and taxes. In return, the Tunisian government provided accommodation and transportation for the medical team, funded the costs of internal travel and treatment in public institutions, and paid maintenance grants according to the scale in force for Tunisian doctors. In addition to their normal services at the hospitals, the team carried out a variety of projects over the course of their year-long mission. On February 19, doctors from the Jendouba team carried out free medical consultations in Kef Province. On August 5, 2023, members of the medical team provided free medical consultations to employees of the Meleq Dam project in Tunisia. Medical personnel conducted internal medicine, general surgery, ophthalmology and other examinations, and acupuncturists also provided on-site treatment for many employees. On October 23, 2023, acupuncturists on the medical team provided free treatment for teachers and students at the Confucius Institute of the University of Carthage in Tunis, Tunisia. The acupuncture team also trained local acupuncturists throughout the year at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Center. August 8, 2023, marked 50 years since the first Chinese medical team was sent to Tunisia in 1973. Since then, 27 Chinese medical teams, consisting of a total of 1,153 medical personnel, have provided medical services to over 6.1 million Tunisians. The 27th medical team departed from Tunisia on January 3, 2024.