China medical team honored for service to Gambia
By Ebrima Fadera
Edited by Mutiu Olawuyi
President Adama Barrow has signed certificates of honor recognizing members of the 23rd batch of the China Medical Team to The Gambia for their service to the Gambian people over the past year.
The certificates were presented during a rotation ceremony held on July 4 by the Chinese Embassy in The Gambia to mark the transition between the 23rd and 24th batches of Chinese medical teams serving in the country.
Chinese Ambassador to The Gambia Liu Jin attended the ceremony, where outgoing team members were honored for their contributions and incoming medical personnel were welcomed to continue the mission.
At the event, Lin Lin, head of the 23rd China Medical Team, presented a report on the team’s work in The Gambia over the past year. The team’s service included medical treatment, grassroots health outreach, malaria prevention and control, and support for talent training in the health sector.
The recognition by President Barrow reflects The Gambia’s appreciation for a health partnership that has contributed to patient care, disease prevention and medical capacity-building.
For many Gambian communities, international medical cooperation becomes meaningful when it improves access to care, strengthens local health workers and reaches people beyond major hospitals. The work of the outgoing Chinese medical team therefore speaks to a practical need: a health system is strongest when expertise is shared, skills are transferred and vulnerable communities are not left behind.
Ambassador Liu commended the achievements of previous Chinese medical teams, saying their work had contributed to health cooperation between China and The Gambia. He presented the certificates of honor signed by President Barrow to members of the 23rd team.
The ceremony also welcomed the 24th batch of the China Medical Team, led by Xiao He, who expressed commitment to continuing the work of his predecessors and making further contributions to health service delivery in The Gambia.
Ambassador Liu formally handed over the team flag to the 24th medical team, urging them to carry forward the spirit of the China Medical Team, uphold the compassion and professional responsibility of physicians, and serve local people with strong medical skills.
He also encouraged the incoming team to contribute to deepening health cooperation and building what the embassy described as a China-Gambia Community of Common Health.
The rotation ceremony highlighted the continuity of medical cooperation between China and The Gambia. It also showed the importance of partnerships that combine direct health service with training, prevention and institutional support.
In a country where health facilities continue to face pressure from staffing needs, limited resources and rising public expectations, visiting medical teams can provide useful support. However, the most lasting benefit comes when such partnerships strengthen local capacity, mentor Gambian health professionals and leave behind systems that continue to serve patients after foreign teams depart.
That is why the emphasis on talent training is important. Medical cooperation should not only treat today’s patients; it should help prepare tomorrow’s doctors, nurses, technicians and public health workers.
Malaria prevention and control also remain central to public health in The Gambia. Support in this area can help reduce illness, protect children and families, and ease pressure on health facilities, especially during high-risk periods.
The honoring of the 23rd team and the arrival of the 24th team therefore represent both gratitude and responsibility. The outgoing team leaves with recognition. The incoming team begins with expectations.
For The Gambia and China, the rotation is another reminder that diplomacy is not only conducted through official meetings. It is also built in hospitals, clinics, laboratories and communities where cooperation touches human lives directly.
As the 24th China Medical Team begins its assignment, the challenge will be to build on previous achievements, deepen collaboration with Gambian health workers and ensure that health cooperation continues to translate into better care for ordinary people.
