Health Minister emphasizes significance of “China-Ethiopia Brightness Journey” in advancing bilateral vision
Addis Ababa, January 4, 2025 (FMC) – The Minister of Health of Ethiopia, Dr. Mekdes Daba, stated that the Ethiopia-China Brightness Journey initiative has a meaningful role in advancing the shared vision of China and Ethiopia by addressing not only visual impairment but also community needs in general.
The Minister highlighted the significance of the ever-growing cooperation between Ethiopia and China during the launch ceremony of China-Ethiopia “Bright Journey” Project of Cataract Surgery at Tirunesh-Beijing General Hospital in Addis Ababa on Friday 3rd January.
The project was officially launched in the presence of Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Dhaba, State Minister for Health, Frehiwot Abebe, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai, the President of Tianjin Eye Hospital Mr. Zhang Wei, officials and experts of the field as well as beneficiaries of the initiative.
During the launch event, the Chinese team donated medical equipment worth 40 million birr to the hospital, which is also known as the Ethiopia-China Friendship Hospital, where Chinese and Ethiopian doctors treat patients shoulder to shoulder and share technical knowledge and experiences..
On the occasion it was mentioned that the Chinese medical team consisting of 10 senior ophthalmologists and nurses have already started performing free cataract surgery for more than 500 eye patients, with 80 of them having already enjoyed successful operations as of Friday.
In an exclusive interview with Fana Media Corporation, Health Minister Mekdes stated that by providing cataract surgery, a tangible difference will be made in improving eye surgery in Ethiopia. She said that the government of Ethiopia values the campaign which aligns with the health policies in the country and manifests expanding partnership and shared vision between the two countries.
Recalling the elevation of the two countries relation into “All-Weather Strategic Partnership” during a meeting between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Xi Jinping in Beijing on 17th October 2023 on the sidelines of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Dr. Mekdes emphasized that the two countries cooperation in major areas, including health sector, is growing stronger than ever.
“Our friendship extends beyond borders. We have been sitting together and also caring and sharing our visions for the globe that we want to see for the generations to come. Today we mark another milestone in this relationship of donation of over one million doses of tablets and several medications that are already submitted to us,” the Minister remarked, noting that “Bright initiative is a meaningful way of our shared vision to address not only visual impairment, but community needs together.”
Note that China implemented the Bright Journey project in Ethiopia in 2014 and performed free cataract surgeries for hundreds of eye patients in the process.
The Minister noted that “Bright Journey” initiative is one of the key and brightest initiatives being implemented in cooperation with China, and expressed gratitude the government and people of China for the implementation of the initiative to help restore the patients’ sight and improve their quality of life.
By addressing cataracts, a leading cause of blindness in Ethiopia, “Bright Journey” meets a critical health need while solidifying the partnership between the two nations.
Referring recent data obtained by her ministry, Dr. Mekdes indicated that there are more than 5.4 million eye patients in the country where cataract alone is responsible for nearly half of all blindness in the country, and reminded that these diseases are “healable and preventable”.
The Minister mentioned that her country has initiated an initiative called “Tsidu (Clean)” which was introduced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to prevent these challenges.
She recalled that the government has made significant strides in its policies and proclamations to advance the health sector. “We have already increased access through similar projects in the country to around 800,000 people who received this service over the past few years, through increasing our access to cataract surgeries.”
The initiative also focuses on sustainability, involving local medical personnel in the surgeries to ensure skills transfer and capacity building. “Thanks to the leadership of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, this project has not only brought eye care to those who are in need, but also the knowledge that the two countries will share.
The Minister expressed confidence that tangible differences will be made in improving eyesight and eye health in Ethiopia.
For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Chen Hai, asserted that the 25th Chinese medical team will share technical experience with Ethiopian counterparts for further development of Ethiopia’s health sector.
He emphasized that the Embassy of China in Addis Ababa will, as always, support China-Ethiopia cooperation in health.
“The ‘Bright Journey’ project vividly shows our all-weather strategic partnership and traditional friendship. This project will help hundreds of Ethiopian cataract patients regain their sight,” Ambassador Chen said.
President of the Tianjin Eye Hospital Zhang Wei, who is also the leader of the Chinese medical team, said the campaign is not only a continuation of China-Ethiopia friendship but also another milestone the countries are witnessing.
“We are willing to dedicate our surgical skills to the Ethiopian people and jointly write a beautiful chapter of the China-Ethiopia friendship. I hope this project will bring light to the patients in Ethiopia and inject new vitality and good expectations into the development of China-Ethiopia friendship,” Zhang said.
Beneficiaries of the campaign have also expressed their gratitude to the medical team as well as the governments of Ethiopia and China.
On the basis of completing the overall project goals, Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital will be able to carry out cataract phacoemulsification surgery, which will drive the development of ophthalmology in Ethiopia and relieve the pain of more local cataract patients, it was indicated.
Moreover, during the implementation of the project, academic exchanges will be carried out with the Menelik Eye Center to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment level of common ophthalmic diseases by local ophthalmologists through surgical observation, demonstration teaching, case discussion and other methods.
By Mesafnt B.