A member of the 21st batch of the Chinese medical team to Senegal measures the height of a child during a health checkup at the Daaray Serigne Saliou Mbacke Orphanage in Dakar, Senegal, May 31, 2026. (The 21st batch of the Chinese medical team to Senegal/Handout via Xinhua)
DAKAR, June 1 (Xinhua) -- In a classroom serving as a temporary consultation room at the Daaray Serigne Saliou Mbacke Orphanage in Dakar, children waited quietly for their turn at the routine medical checkup.
One after another, they stepped onto a scale, stood against a height chart, and then moved from one doctor to another. An ophthalmologist patiently guided them through vision tests, while an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist gently tilted a child's head to examine the ear with a small light.
On Sunday, ahead of International Children's Day, 84 children aged between two and 14 at the orphanage received medical checkups and individual health records from the 21st batch of the Chinese medical team to Senegal.
The free consultation covered several specialties, including pediatrics, pediatric surgery, orthopedics, dermatology, otorhinolaryngology, and ophthalmology.
The doctors measured the children's height and weight, checked their vision, conducted clinical examinations, and assessed their general health, including physical development, nutritional status, visual and ENT health, skin condition, and musculoskeletal development.
The findings were recorded in individual health files, which the medical team said would serve as a basis for follow-up care.
The visit began with an invitation letter from Ndeye Awa Sadio, director of the orphanage, to the Chinese medical team. In the letter, she said the institution currently cares for 84 children who need regular medical checkups.
"We believe that the arrival of Chinese doctors will bring the children the most precious festive gift," she wrote, expressing appreciation for the dedication and humanitarian spirit of Chinese doctors serving local communities.
The response came quickly. On Sunday, members of the Chinese medical mission arrived at the orphanage with consultation equipment, commonly used medicines, and a plan that went beyond a one-time visit.
"Today, we came here during our day off to offer the children a special gift for International Children's Day," said Lan Jinkai, head of the medical team.
Lan said all 84 children received systematic examinations and personal health records. The medical team will continue monitoring the children's health, follow up on problems detected during the screening, and refer them to local medical institutions if further diagnosis or treatment is needed.
"The consultation today is not the end," he said. "We will continue to follow the children's health conditions."
Alongside the medical checkups, the team donated commonly used medicines to the orphanage, answered questions from staff members on daily child care, and organized practical first-aid training, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A session on eye care was also held to help the children learn how to protect their eyesight.
For Fatou Ba, a staff member at the institution, the visit brought several specialists together in one place for the children.
"It was very good because we were able to see different types of doctors, including ENT, dermatology, and ophthalmology specialists," she said. "This helps us know whether the children have health problems that we may not have been aware of. It was well organized, and we sincerely thank you."
The visit also had a special connection to China's Fujian Province. The orphanage is supported by the Fujian Chamber of Commerce in Senegal, while the 21st Chinese medical team to Senegal also comes from Fujian.
"Entrepreneurs from Fujian helped support this institution, and doctors from Fujian came to protect the health of its children," Lan said. "It is the same concern for the children."
For the 84 children at the Daaray Serigne Saliou Mbacke Orphanage, Sunday's visit left more than a medical checkup; it also left them with personal health records -- and a promise of continued care.
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