China deploys 46 medical specialists to Botswana
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday July 7, 2026 12:00
Of the team, 25 will be stationed at Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, whilst the remaining 21 will serve at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in Francistown.
Chinese Ambassador, Fan Yong revealed that the group constitutes the 18th Chinese Medical Team to be deployed to Botswana, replacing their predecessors whose two-year assignment has come to an end.
He explained that the arrival of the new team reflects the enduring health cooperation between Botswana and China.
'Over the next two years, they will work shoulder to shoulder with local colleagues, bringing expert care and renewed hope to communities around the country,' the ambassador said during the welcoming ceremony.
The deployment is expected to reinforce specialist healthcare services while promoting skills transfer and knowledge sharing between Chinese medical experts and Botswana's healthcare professionals, officials said.
The ambassador added that he hopes that the 18th team will carry forward the glorious tradition and noble spirit of the China Medical Team, a spirit defined by defying hardships, dedicating oneself, saving lives, and loving without borders.
Furthermore, he is confident that every member will bring their finest expertise and wholehearted compassion to every patient they encounter. “In doing so, they will not only contribute to the health and well-being of the people of Botswana but also write a new and inspiring chapter in the enduring story of China-Botswana friendship,” he pointed out.
In addition, the ambassador said their efforts will focus on strengthening hospital-to-hospital collaboration and intensifying the training of medical personnel.
“We are planning to launch two new projects: the paired hospital programme between Fujian Provincial Hospital and Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital, and a dedicated cataract surgery project,” he stated.
In addition, the Embassy also donated five pieces of medical equipment with a total value of about P180,000 to the Ministry of Health. The medical equipment donated include: one Multi-parameter Monitor, one Automatic Electronic Defibrillator, one portable ECG Monitor and two Syringe Pumps.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Tshepo Machacha, said the donation of equipment comes at a time when the health sector continues to face resource constraints.
Hence he said it will undoubtedly contribute towards improving healthcare service delivery. “We remain deeply grateful to the government and the people of the People’s Republic of China for their continued generosity and support. “We also welcome the ongoing discussions between our two governments on initiatives to reduce the cataract surgery backlog as well as establish a paired mechanism in the field of urology,” Machacha added. He also highlighted that Botswana will greatly value expanded collaboration in the area of structured exchange programmes for healthcare professionals. Moreover, Machacha highlighted that such programmes would enable doctors, nurses and other health professionals to gain exposure to advanced clinical practice, hospital management systems, emerging medical technologies, quality improvement initiatives and specialist training in Chinese hospitals.
In addition, he said the 17th team, which is leaving the country in near future achieved remarkable milestones during their assignment in the country.
“They provided more than 300,000 medical consultations and treatments, participated in over 8,100 surgical procedures, conducted seven free medical outreach programmes, trained more than 1,400 local health care professionals and managed more than 5,000 critically ill and emergency cases,” the acting permanent secretary to the Ministry of Health said.