Chinese doctors conduct free checkups in the DRC

It was 1981 and Liu, who used to work at the Hebei General Hospital in north China, had gone to the Central African country with other doctors as part of a Chinese medical team. Liu, then 35, became well-known after he cured the military commander of Equateur, a province in the north, of severe skin ulcer, using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). 

Pin-point therapy 

Liu had been deputed to the General Hospital of Gemena, 1,000 km away from capital city Kinshasa. Despite the difficult working conditions and communication problems, he devoted himself to work as soon as he arrived there. Based on the local people’s physiological characteristics and local climatic conditions, he came up with a set of TCM therapies to cure common diseases. 

One day, the military commander came to see him for chronic leg ulcer. The doctor had realized that the hot and humid weather made people vulnerable to the infection. After cleaning the infected area, he used acupuncture to remove the toxic pus that had accumulated in the visitor’s leg. After several rounds of treatment, the commander’s leg healed and he became deeply impressed with acupuncture, finding it miraculous. 

Soon other local residents were coming to Liu to have their chronic diseases treated with acupuncture. In the first two years, Liu and his colleagues attended to over 10,000 people at the outpatient department, performed 3,600 operations, and gave emergency treatment to 530 patients.   

Soon the news about the young Chinese doctor with amazing healing skills reached the ears of then President Mobutu Sese Seko, who asked Liu to work for his government. "The president began to hire Chinese doctors from our medical team. Previously, he would choose only European or Israeli doctors," Liu told ChinAfrica . Liu was entrusted with treating the president and his family, as well as high-ranking government officials.   

TCM wins disciples 

The local doctors at the General Hospital of Gemena were impressed by Liu’s ability to cure diseases and save patients’ lives with just a few needles. Some of the doctors wanted to learn acupuncture. Muyeke Théo, who worked with Liu in the same office, was one of them.  

In April 1991, the Chinese medical team is awarded the Knight of the National Order of the Republic of Zaire medal in recognition of their dedicated work

After a period of intense learning, Théo could do acupuncture on his own when Liu went to Kinshasa on business trips. In 2007, Théo was transferred to the TCM Department of the N’Djili Sino-Congolese Friendship Hospital in Kinshasa, where he played a key role in treating patients with acupuncture. 

A local nursing school graduate, known only as Donba, was another example. Smart and keen to learn, he became Liu’s assistant. Every time Liu performed acupuncture on a patient, Donba would write down the treatment method assiduously.  

"Once I injured my right hand in an accident," Liu recalled a memorable experience. "Donba was standing beside me, holding the plate of needles. I pointed out to him an acupoint on the patient’s body and he inserted the needle. The patient was cured."

"I liked the young man with the studious face and taught him everything I knew. He learned fast and soon became my right-hand man."

Liu can also never forget Mpova Alphons, a reputed Congolese doctor who was good at both Chinese and acupuncture. Alphons began learning acupuncture from Chinese doctors since the time Hebei Province sent the first Chinese medical team to Zaire in 1973. He even studied at the Liaoning University of TCM in Shenyang, a city in northeast China, for three years.  

(From right) Liu Jiangui, then Chinese Ambassador to the DRC Wu Zexian, and officials of the Kintambo Hospital in Kinshasa

The Chinese medical team saved his life several times when he was critically ill. He died at home in 2015 after failing to get timely emergency treatment. The medical team helped with his funeral and gave financial assistance to his family.  

Leaving a legacy 

The first overseas Chinese medical team went to Algeria in 1963. Since then, China has sent about 16,000 doctors to 45 African countries. Together with local doctors, Chinese medical staff have saved more than 260 million lives in Africa, earning huge respect on the continent. 

"Since 1973, Hebei has taken charge of providing medical assistance in Zaire," said Niu Zhiwen, Director of the International Cooperation Department, Health and Family Planning Commission of Hebei. "More than 400 doctors have been sent over 33 years, except for nine years when it was suspended due to war." 

In April 1991, the Chinese medical team was awarded the Knight of the National Order of the Republic of Zaire medal by President Mobutu in recognition of their dedicated work. Niu said the 17th medical team will leave for the DRC this month. 

For generations, Chinese doctors have healed the sick in the DRC, bringing health and hope to the local people. They have also trained a legion of local acupuncturists such as Muyeke Théo, Donba and Mpova Alphons, who have taken the traditional Chinese treatment to the remotest corners of the country.