Entrusted by the National Health Commission, PUMCH’s ophthalmologists were part of the “China-Namibia Journey of Light” medical team which went on May 7-29, 2018 to Namibian capital Windhoek and border city Rundu to perform cataract surgeries. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, who was paying a state visit to Namibia, visited the Namibia Central Hospital on May 16 in Windhoek and met the team members.

Li visited the patients who received the surgery and listened to a briefing by Professor Zhang Meifen, the team leader and deputy director of the Department of Ophthalmology, PUMCH. Associate Professor Zhang Shunhua, Surgeon Wang Zaowen and Ophthalmology Director of the hospital Ndume removed the eye cover of three patients. The patients, regained their sight, thanked the doctors with songs and dances. Li also praised the team for not only bringing light to the patients but contributing to China-Namibia friendship.

During the Journey free cataract surgeries were performed on 208 local patients. All the eight team members are from PUMCH. They are: Professor Zhang Meifen, Associate Professor Zhang Shunhua, Associate Professor Zhang Zhiqiao, Surgeon Wang Zaowen, Surgeon Yang Zhikun, nurse Xie Dan from Ophthalmology and nurses Wang Fei, Wang Yiyi from Operation Room.

Since 2014, PUMCH has for many times been part of the “journey of light” state medical teams to Asian and African countries. It helped to restore sight to thousands of patients and contributed to the friendship between China and these countries.

By Yang Zhikun, Department of Ophthalmology