On January 6, Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau, The Bahamas, was filled with a warm atmosphere. As Yan Jiarong, Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas, and Bahamian Minister of Health Michael Darville jointly announced the launch of the program, the ophthalmology expert team dispatched by Hunan officially took over the baton of the Brightness Tour. This beam of medical light from Hunan will help restore clear vision for approximately 200 Bahamian cataract patients.
As the core implementer of the program, Hunan, drawing on its 51-year legacy of foreign medical aid, is writing a new chapter in China-Bahamas friendship with its sophisticated medical expertise.
This Brightness Tour is not a sporadic cross-border charitable endeavor, but an inevitable extension of the friendly cooperation between Hunan and The Bahamas. As early as 2022, when local ophthalmological services came to a standstill and a large number of patients were plunged into darkness in The Bahamas due to hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bahamian side took the initiative to seek assistance from Hunan. This trust spanning thousands of miles was answered by Hunan with the utmost promptness.
From preliminary surveys and equipment preparation to expert selection and technical coordination, Hunan has been advancing all work in strict accordance with the highest standards. All the 7 experts dispatched this time are from Xiangya Hospital and the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. Bearing the title of National Youth Civilization, this team performs over 10,000 surgeries annually and has rushed to the Caribbean region with world-class technologies and equipment.
Professor Li Yun, the leader of the Chinese medical mission, stated that she was delighted to bring light and warmth to Bahamian patients. She noted that the Chinese team, equipped with advanced technologies and rich experience, has undertaken multiple free medical missions worldwide. She expressed the expectation to exchange medical expertise with Bahamian counterparts, contribute to the development of public health in The Bahamas, and further promote China-Bahamas friendship.
In The Bahamas, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy caused by intense ultraviolet radiation have long plagued local residents. The medical team from Hunan has not only brought the hope of regaining eyesight, but also interpreted the concept of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind through pragmatic actions. Local Bahamian media outlets, including The Tribune, The Nassau Guardian and Eyewitness News, have spread the story of the "Xiangya Light" across all the islands. With its continuous medical assistance, Hunan has enabled China-Bahamas friendship to take root in the field of people's livelihood.
CopyFrom：新湖南客户端
