(Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

China Jiangsu International (CJI) played a crucial role in building the Zimbabwe-China Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Center at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, which stands as the sole facility of its kind in Africa.

Jiang Zhichao, head of the 17th Chinese medical team to Zimbabwe, said the center was planned earlier for the benefit of the local population but construction faced difficulties in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the largest public hospital in Zimbabwe, was the only hospital to treat COVID-19 patients, leading to a high risk of infection at that time, according to Jiang.

During this period, CJI was tasked with the expansion of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. The Chinese contractor’s local branch in Zimbabwe overcame various challenges to assist in the construction of the TCM and acupuncture facility.

Today, both Chinese and local TCM practitioners are working in the center. The first TCM training session lasted for four months, covering both theories and practical applications. Participants in the session graduated last December and also received their certificates.