São Tomé and Príncipe to host Chinese medics in a five-year deal
The Chinese government has entered a health agreement with the government of São Tomé and Príncipe to send medical professionals to the central African Island to boost healthcare delivery in the country from 2024 - 2029.
Chinese Ambassador to São Tomé and Príncipe, Xu YingZhen explained that each medical team, specialising in obstetrics, gynaecology, general surgery, anaesthesiology, acupuncture, cardiovascular medicine, and dentistry, will stay in the archipelago for approximately a year and a half, STP-press reports
“The Chinese government will send four medical teams to São Tomé and Príncipe made up of specialists in the coming years between 2024 and 2029,” YingZhen said at the signing ceremony.
YingZhen added that “according to the needs of this country [São-Tomé and Príncipe] from the next medical team, the Chinese government will send an anaesthesiologist to this country to cover the needs and increase the medical service capabilities of this country.”
São Tomé’s Minister of Health Célsio Junqueira highlighted the relevance of this Chinese support and addressed the country’s deficit in medical staff over the years.
“This agreement is focused on medical-Chinese missions because we, the country have problems with specialists, we have a shortage... and that this agreement has the purpose to provide security to the national health system,” said Junqueira.
As a Portuguese-speaking country with a population of around 225,000 as of 2021, São Tomé and Príncipe is classified as a lower-middle-income nation. This small island state possesses a fragile economy that is highly susceptible to external shocks.
