At dawn in Afanoya, a small village on the outskirts of Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital, dozens of residents gathered outside the Saint Brigitte Health Center, drawn by the promise of care.
Among them was Marceline Mbo, a 40-year-old mother of three, seeking relief from chronic eye and dental pain, along with treatment for her children’s malaria.
“I’m waiting for the Chinese doctors … to treat the eye pain and the toothache, and for the children, they can treat them for malaria,” she said, reflecting a sentiment shared by many in the crowd.
The clinic, staffed by members of the 24th Chinese medical team in Cameroon, was part of a three-day free medical camp commemorating half a century of China-Cameroon health cooperation.
The first Chinese medical delegation arrived in Mbalmayo in 1975. Since then, China has dispatched 24 teams and 786 medical professionals to the country.
“We arrived early. At 5:30, we were already on our way here. I came for my eyes. My vision is blurry. I have a severe headache,” said 60-year-old Josephine Messomo, who was accompanied by her 82-year-old husband. Both were among the many treated by Chinese specialists in ophthalmology and general medicine.
“There were letters I had to read, and after that, they prescribed eye drops.
I feel reassured and confident that my problem will be resolved,” said Mbo after her consultation.
The impact of these missions has been profound. According to Kang Yijiong, head of the current Chinese medical team, they have served over 3.3 million patients, performed more than 160,000 surgeries, and treated upwards of 49,000 critical cases. Nearly 200 free clinics have been organized across both urban and rural areas.
One beneficiary, Liliane Mfoumou from Ngat-Bane, received acupuncture in 2022 for a debilitating back injury. “
The magic performed by the Chinese doctor healed me.
Today, I go to the farm regularly and do other activities. I feel no pain,” she said.
The Chinese teams have not only provided care but also contributed to Cameroon’s medical infrastructure.
Two flagship hospitals—one in Yaoundé, the other in Douala—have been constructed with Chinese support, specializing in gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatrics.
Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health, Manaouda Malachie, praised the collaboration.
“Through these missions, medicine has become a fraternity, and the impact of Chinese action in Cameroon has become more perceptible and tangible,” he said. “China does not simply give; it shares. It does not dictate; it proposes. It does not impose itself; it cooperates.”
Eunice Nchang, a senior nurse at Yaoundé’s gyneco-obstetric hospital, said, “The biggest gain for Cameroon these 50 years is the experience we have gained from Chinese doctors.”
As Cameroon and China mark five decades of medical diplomacy, the legacy goes beyond numbers—it lies in the lives changed, the skills transferred, and the quiet solidarity shared across continents.
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