Chinese-built hospital brings hope to Gabon's poor

In Belle Vue 2 suburb within the 3rd district of Gabon's capital, Libreville, stands the Sino-Gabon Cooperation Hospital, probably the only public medical facility in this suburb whose residents are mostly poor.

Patients enter the hospital complex through a gate that has flags of both countries, Gabon and China, flying side-by-side.

The hospital which was inaugurated in 1975, is one of the many infrastructures accomplished under cooperation between the two countries.

"We are probably the only hospital in Gabon that has all kinds of specialists," the hospital's director Gisele Mounguengui said proudly when she spoke to Xinhua.

Every two and half years, China sends to the hospital 11 specialist doctors, a chef and an interpreter. It is these specialists who have created the hospital's reputation.

"I was a road accident victim. I was forced to walk with assistance of a walking stick. My family recommended that I come here for acupuncture treatment. Just after the first session, I was able to walk without the walking stick," said Serge Alain Pambou, a 38-year-old Gabonese who spoke to Xinhua from his hospital bed.

"The treatment helped me a lot and I am entirely satisfied," he added, with a smile on his lips.

One of his neighbours in the hospital going by the name Antoine, nods in agreement. "I suffered for a long time," he said, adding that he had tried several times to find a solution to his backache without success."

"Acupuncture is the most preferred service in our hospital. We receive more and more patients seeking the service," the hospital's director said.

In this regard, the Gabonese state has requested China for another acupuncture specialist to relieve the only doctor who receives and treats about 40 patients per day.

The hospital is putting up a VIP section to receive senior personalities who will be coming seeking the service.

In 2015, the hospital received 60,120 patients. The highest number of patients were seeking services such as ophthalmology, stomatology, gynaecology and pediatric services.

Most parents with sick children also flock the hospital for general treatment.

"We are the only hospital where one does not need an appointment to see a doctor, because according to our Chinese specialists, a disease does not give a warning," Mounguengui said.

The current head of mission to the hospital Li Henglin told Xinhua the issue of language barrier is never a major challenge because "before leaving China for Gabon, each of the doctors is expected to undergo a six-month training in French language."

Besides the training, the doctors carry in the pockets a small manual on "common diagnosis phrases" and they also get assistance from local interpreters who have studied Chinese language.

The hospital was entirely constructed and equipped by China. Each year, the Chinese government allocates money to the hospital for purchase of essential equipments and drugs.

"All the drugs donated by China are freely given to patients," added Li who has worked in Gabon for the last two years.

Over 40 years since its construction, the hospital has been getting old. A few years ago, the complex was entirely renovated.

In 2015, the Chinese government donated over 1 billion CFA Francs to go towards technical renovation, making it the only Gabonese hospital with capacity to offer "digital radiology."

However, not everything is rosy at the hospital. Its director expressed her desire to get a cardiologist, a big generator to guarantee surgical operations due to persistent power blackouts and a constant source of water.

"Resolution of these problems will increase satisfaction of patients, some of whom have started going to health centers recently constructed in the capital," she said.