Chinese Government dispatches 16th Chinese Medical Team to Northern District Hospital

Project narrative

On 11 March 2014, Ambassador Xie Bohua Vanuatu and Vanuatu Deputy Prime Minister signed an exchange of notes on medical aid technical cooperation, under which the Chinese agreement has agreed to continue sending medical teams to Santo Northern Hospital and Port Vila Central Hospital. The Chinese government has been sending medical teams to the Santo Northern Hospital since 1985 and the Port Vila Central Hospital since 1993. These teams typically include 7-9 doctors and serve for 2 years. The Chinese Government covers airfares, accommodation, transport and allowances as well as the provision of medical instruments, appliances and medicines. To date, more than 300 Chinese doctors have been dispatched to Vanuatu. Because of this program’s success, the new agreement to continue was signed in 2014. On 15 September 2014, the sixteenth team of doctors from China to work at the Northern District Hospital on Santo had arrived. The two teams will include surgeons, dentists, pediatricians, and an acupuncturist, stay for two years, and the contract will cost the Chinese government 2 million US dollars. The first secretary with the Chinese Embassy in Port Vila, Yang Xuhong, said helping with health in the country is the most important priority for China's co-operation with Vanuatu.