Source: Xinhua News Agency
WENDHOEK, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Rehabilitation after a stroke is a challenge for the elderly, but Mavanjapu Vico, a 66-year-old Namibian, said she was lucky to find a local Chinese medicine clinic, and that she was now able to walk independently and have a second vivid life after the stroke was paralyzed.
Vico, who lives in the capital Windhoek, suffered a stroke in early 2020 and, despite receiving a variety of different treatments there, was unable to get back on her feet and walk and was paralyzed in bed. "I took a lot of medicine at the time, but none of them worked, I couldn't do normal basic activities, I couldn't even lift my hands, and I was in a very bad mood."
In August last year, Vico was referred to a TCM clinic for TCM acupuncture treatment. After several courses of treatment, her condition began to improve. Vico sighed: "This is really a miracle, I can walk again, and I can go out and move, thanks to the Chinese medicine doctor gave me a second chance to survive, I think in a while I should be able to drive out." 」 ”
In Namibia, more and more patients like Vico have begun to receive TCM treatment, and Wang Peng, a doctor who treats Vico, said, "The growing influence of TCM in Namibia is inseparable from the strong support of our country, the selfless dedication of a group of TCM physicians who have aided the medical team, and the persistence and efforts of the elders of the old TCM who have been in Na na for a long time."
China has been sending medical teams to Namibia since 1996, consisting of two TCM physicians and two nurses. After more than 20 years of hard work, many local people have gradually accepted traditional Chinese medicine.
From 2014 to 2016, Wang Peng participated in the 10th batch of medical teams working at the Catutura State Hospital in Windhoek. In two years, he and his colleagues treated 15,000 patients and were highly praised by the Namibian side. Wang Peng said that the treatment of traditional Chinese medicine is simple and easy, there are many indications and effectiveness, African countries lack of medical treatment, the allocation of medical resources is unbalanced, and it is very necessary to develop and promote traditional Chinese medicine in Africa.
In 2017, Wang Peng came to Namibia again and founded his own TCM clinic to provide patients with a variety of TCM treatment methods, he said, "After more than three years of application, I finally promoted TCM into Namibia's medical insurance system, so that the local medical system also recognizes TCM treatment, and many local doctors will refer patients to our clinic."
At the Katutula Hospital, where the medical team sits, there is a steady stream of locals who come to the TCM clinic to see a doctor. According to Fang Lianqiang, the leader of the 13th batch of medical teams, although the medical team has shortened the outpatient working hours due to the impact of the new crown epidemic, it still has to treat more than 70 people in a morning on average.
Fang Lianqiang said that in Namibia, Chinese medicine has won its rightful place. Recently, the Ministry of Health of Namibia has specially arranged for students from the University of Namibia Medical School to intern in the TCM Clinic of Catutula Hospital, and the medical team has to provide internship counseling for 6 medical students in the outpatient clinic every week.
"Most of these students have not been exposed to TCM before, but after internship, they have gained insight and personally experienced the role and effect of TCM in actual treatment, which is beneficial to their future medical practice, and it is also a good way to popularize TCM in the local area." Fang Lianqiang said. (Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Changwei)