A trainee (L) takes hands-on acupuncture practice under the guidance of an expert from the Chinese medical team during a training course on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) techniques in Freetown, Sierra Leone, June 27, 2025. The 26th batch of the Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone held a training course on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) techniques in Freetown, the capital of the western African country, from Thursday to Friday. (The 26th batch of the Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone/Handout via Xinhua)
FREETOWN, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The 26th batch of the Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone held a training course on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) techniques in Freetown, the capital of the western African country, from Thursday to Friday.
With over 80 participants, the two-day event served as a practical step toward bolstering healthcare collaboration between China and Sierra Leone while promoting the integration of TCM into local health systems.
Liu Longfei, head of the medical team, said their approach integrates TCM with modern Western practices to formulate comprehensive solutions for patients.
The core objective of the training program was to provide structured instruction in essential TCM techniques, including meridian theory, acupuncture, tuina (therapeutic massage) and cupping.
"Particularly, we focus on clinical applications tailored to address lumbar disc herniation, which is a common affliction here in Sierra Leone," said Liu.
Participants who pass the final assessment will receive an official TCM certificate and may qualify for clinical shadowing opportunities at the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital's TCM Center.
Liu emphasized the importance of cultivating a local cadre of healthcare professionals proficient in TCM techniques, with the aim of building a sustainable healthcare workforce capable of serving their communities independently.
Local medical workers learn from observation as a Chinese doctor (1st L) treats a patient during a training course on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) techniques in Freetown, Sierra Leone, June 27, 2025. The 26th batch of the Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone held a training course on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) techniques in Freetown, the capital of the western African country, from Thursday to Friday. (The 26th batch of the Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone/Handout via Xinhua)
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