Chinese medical cooperation in Africa : With special emphasis on the medical teams and anti-malaria campaign

Abstract

Medical cooperation between China and Africa started in 1963 when China sent its first medical team to Algeria. With the increase in China’s power and the implementation of the “going-out” strategy, China’s policy towards Africa has become a focus of the international community, while for China, South-South cooperation has become more significant. Cooperation in the medical field is a typical element in South-South cooperation and is an important part of China’s official development assistance (ODA). It includes Chinese medical teams, the anti-malaria campaign, training African medical personnel, China-supported medications, facilities and hospitals in Africa, and Chinese medical cooperation with WHO and other international institutions in Africa. The dispatch of Chinese medical teams by the government is one of the most enduring and effective forms of cooperation in Africa. This paper studies the medical cooperation between China and Africa, with special emphasis on Chinese medical teams and anti-malaria efforts, especially after the China-Africa Summit in 2006.