A send-off ceremony is held in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province on Dec 19, to mark the departure of the 20th group of Chinese medical teams for Central Africa. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]

A send-off ceremony was held in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province on Dec 19 to mark the departure of the 20th group of Chinese medical teams for Central Africa.

The team, consisting of 11 individuals from Taizhou, includes nine medical professionals, one chef, and one translator. These medical staff members, representing various departments of municipal hospitals, specialize in fields such as infectious diseases, gynecology, ophthalmology, acupuncture, and pharmacy.

Wang Genge, speaking on behalf of the entire team, expressed deep respect for the trailblazers who have selflessly served in foreign lands. "Inspired by our predecessors, we will strive to do our best. With exceptional skills and a commitment to ethical medical practices, we are dedicated to providing outstanding healthcare services to the people of Central Africa," he affirmed.

This year holds special significance as it commemorates the 60th anniversary of China's deployment of medical teams for foreign aid and the 55th anniversary for Zhejiang. Since 1968, Zhejiang has shouldered the national responsibility of dispatching Chinese medical teams to African nations, including Mali, Central Africa, and Namibia. As of Dec 19, the total number of dispatched medical team members had reached 1,276.