by Xinhua writers Hua Hongli, Lin Guangyao
DAR ES SALAAM, May 6 (Xinhua) -- As the May Day holiday unfolded in China, bringing with it the bustle of travel and celebration, a different scene played out thousands of kilometers away in Tanzania.
Here, members of the 28th Chinese medical team to Tanzania spent the holiday in operating rooms, hospital wards and emergency sites, quietly carrying out their duties and safeguarding lives.
Earlier this week in Dar es Salaam, members of the medical team organized a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training session for staff from Chinese enterprises operating locally. Using simulation mannequins, they demonstrated the full emergency response process, from assessing consciousness and activating emergency services to performing chest compressions and rescue breathing.
"Keep your arms straight, press at least five centimeters deep, at a rate of 100 to 120 times per minute," team members repeated patiently, guiding participants one by one and correcting their posture.
Beyond CPR, the doctors also delivered health lectures on stroke prevention and emergency response, bringing practical medical knowledge closer to those living and working abroad.
"We hope more people can master these life-saving skills," said team leader Liu Jia. "Sometimes, those first few minutes can make all the difference."
Later that day, just as the team sat down for a brief meal after a long day's work, an urgent phone call broke the calm. A young man had suddenly collapsed while playing badminton, losing consciousness. Without hesitation, Liu quickly assembled team members, grabbed emergency equipment and rushed to the scene.
Upon arrival, they conducted rapid assessments, including electrocardiogram monitoring and blood pressure and glucose tests. The patient was diagnosed with acute syncope caused by hypoglycemia following intense physical activity. Emergency treatment was administered on the spot, and the patient stabilized shortly afterward.
For the doctors, it was another reminder that in this line of work, there is no distinction between holidays and ordinary days.
Hundreds of kilometers away in Dodoma, Tanzania's capital, another life-and-death struggle was unfolding. A patient suffering from an acute myocardial infarction was rushed into the emergency room at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital. His condition deteriorated rapidly, with signs of acute left heart failure.
Zhao Cong, a cardiologist from the Chinese medical team, was called in urgently. Angiography revealed a near-total blockage in the left main coronary artery extending into the left anterior descending artery, a critical and high-risk condition.
With little time to spare, Zhao relied on his experience and composure. Working under challenging conditions, he carefully proceeded with the intervention. Moments later, the blocked vessel was successfully reopened, restoring blood flow and prompting applause in the operating room.
Such moments of dedication are part of a long-standing tradition.
On April 8, a handover ceremony between the 27th and 28th Chinese medical teams was held in Dar es Salaam, as part of the longstanding routine of medical cooperation between China and Tanzania.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tanzanian Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Abel Makubi Shekalaghe expressed appreciation for the Chinese government's continued support, noting that Chinese medical teams have played an important role in clinical services, technical support and personnel training.
Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian said that since 1964, when China first sent a medical team to Zanzibar, and in 1968 to mainland Tanzania, a total of 35 teams have been dispatched to Zanzibar and 28 to the mainland, treating around 20 million patients.
The new team, comprising 15 members specializing in anesthesia, neurosurgery and cardiovascular surgery, has pledged to continue enhancing local medical capacity and benefiting more patients.
At the ceremony, participants also paid tribute to Zhang Junqiao, the former leader of the 27th medical team, who lost his life in June 2025 while rescuing a drowning person. His story remains a powerful symbol of the spirit that defines Chinese medical teams abroad.
From training sessions under the sun to emergency rescues and high-risk surgeries, members of the 28th Chinese medical team spent their holiday not at rest, but in service. Far from home, working in unfamiliar and often challenging conditions, they bring not only medical expertise but also a sense of responsibility and compassion.
For many patients, their presence means more than treatment. It brings reassurance, trust and hope. In Tanzania, the idea that "medicine knows no borders" is not just a slogan. It is something lived every day.
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