Chinese hospital ship delivers care, deepens trust in Mauritania

NOUAKCHOTT, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese naval hospital ship Auspicious Ark on Tuesday wrapped up a seven-day friendly visit to Mauritania, marking the first stop of Mission Harmony-2026. On the first day of its medical services, the ship welcomed the first baby born aboard during its current mission, whom the medical crew affectionately called the "Auspicious Baby." His mother Aissata Ba had been receiving prenatal care locally, hoping for a natural delivery. As her due date approached, however, her obstetrician found that the baby was in a breech position and advised her to seek further treatment aboard the Chinese hospital ship then docked at the port. Doctors on the ship also diagnosed Ba with gestational hypertension and recommended a cesarean section. After the doctors explained the risks and she consulted her family and friends, Ba agreed to the operation. That day, Ba gave birth to a boy weighing about 3.4 kg in the first surgery performed during the ship's current mission. He was her fifth child and her first son. "Both mother and baby are doing well, and the baby is in good health," an interpreter told Ba after the operation. Xue Juan, head of the ship's nursing department, recalled that Ba said "Thank you" again and again. Xue then carried the newborn to the ward for a thorough examination, where a blanket bearing the words "Auspicious Baby" and a traditional red bellyband awaited him -- gifts specially prepared by the medical team. Wrapped in the blanket beside his mother, the newborn became a memorable part of the ship's seven-day visit to Mauritania. For some members of the medical team, the visit marked a return to Mauritania. Launched in 2010, the Mission Harmony series is carrying out its 12th mission this year. Zhu Gang, chief medical officer of the hospital ship, previously visited Mauritania in 2024 with the Peace Ark. According to Zhu, the ship recorded approximately 900 patient visits on the opening day, 1,200 the next day and 1,400 on Sept. 18. Daily patient visits increased as clinical and diagnostic departments coordinated more smoothly, patient guidance and flow-control measures improved, and staff became more familiar with the working procedures. Zhu noted that the mission went beyond consultations and examinations aboard the ship. It also included medical services in local communities, academic exchanges and study visits, technical training, health activities and cultural exchanges. Meng Xiaohui, a nurse in the central sterile supply department, was also making her second visit to Mauritania aboard a Chinese naval hospital ship. Recalling her first visit to Mauritania in 2024, Meng said communication was sometimes difficult because many local residents primarily spoke Arabic. What stayed with her most, however, was how readily the local people cooperated during treatment and how warm and friendly they were toward the Chinese medical staff. For many patients, it was their first time aboard a hospital ship, and they were unfamiliar with its layout and procedures. Language barriers added to the challenge, but medical staff spared no effort to provide assistance. "Even when our staff cannot resolve a problem immediately, they make sure the patient knows what to do next. Everyone works extra hours, trying to meet all the patients who come that day," Meng said. The Chinese nurse recalled that many patients thanked the Chinese medical workers after receiving treatment. Two elderly patients even invited her to visit them at home as a gesture of appreciation. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was among the services that drew particular interest from local patients. Zhu Xu, a TCM doctor on his first overseas mission, saw many patients come to the ship specifically seeking such treatment. One of his patients was Savia Zein. She received acupuncture aboard the Peace Ark in 2024 for pain in both knees and found that the treatment had brought significant relief. When the Auspicious Ark arrived, she came aboard for another acupuncture treatment and brought members of her family with her to receive care. Another TCM doctor aboard the ship, Huang Nian, said TCM could help treat a range of common ailments in Africa. During the visit, he treated many patients with back and leg pain and other musculoskeletal problems frequently seen locally. Many TCM techniques are relatively inexpensive and require little equipment, making them practical in areas with limited medical resources. According to Huang, many local patients had never tried acupuncture or cupping therapy before, but readily accepted the treatments after they were explained. "Some patients recommended the therapies to relatives or friends, who came to the ship the following day seeking treatment themselves," he added. In his view, such acceptance reflected trust built over time. "Local patients' trust in Chinese doctors comes from more than 60 years of work by Chinese medical teams in Africa," Huang said. The 36th Chinese medical team to Mauritania is currently serving in the country. During the ship's stay, its members conducted joint consultations with doctors aboard the Auspicious Ark in ophthalmology, orthopedics and other specialties. Wang Yu, head of the Chinese medical team, noted that the team's local clinical experience complemented the ship's team of specialists and advanced equipment, allowing the two sides to provide more accurate diagnoses and efficient treatment.