Narrative
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Project narrative
On June 22, 2019, the Chinese Government dispatched a 21st medical expert team to the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital (中塞友好医院) at Jui. On June 27, 2019, the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone commemorated the arrival of the team with a China-Sierra Leone Public Health Cooperation Reception. The team, led by Dr. Jiang Haibo of Central South University's Xiangya Hospital, was comprised of 20 members, 19 of these being medical professionals. The team treated patients for infectious diseases and cataracts. The team also supported Sierra Leone's COVID-19 response following the outbreak of the virus. The medical mission lasted 15 months, with the team returning to China on October 11, 2020, marking the project's completion. During the team's 15-month mission, they carried out a large number of operations, and have diagnosed and treated a total of 21,740 patients. Nearly 300 surgeries were performed, 34,781 various tests were carried out, and 374 members of medical and nursing staff were taught by clinical training. As part of the mission, on November 30, 2019, 19 medical experts from the 21st China Medical Team partnered with the Confucius Institute of the University of Sierra Leone to provide free medical services to Sierra Leoneans at an event held at the University of Sierra Leone in Freetown. The team included specialists in internal medicine, surgery, traditional Chinese medicine, infectious diseases, and ophthalmology. At the event, the specialists provided first aid and infectious disease prevention education, carried out physical exams, and offered treatment.