By Denis Ejulu
At least more than 40 South Sudanese medics have graduated after completing their three-month medical Chinese language courses since June this year.
Alier Nyok, Acting Director General of Juba Teaching Hospital hailed the graduates that included doctors, nurses and midwives among others upon completing the intensive Chinese language course, adding that the language will ease communication between health workers from the two countries.
“They (Chinese) have gone further to make the relationship with us more easy because if you don’t communicate with someone it is very difficult, but if you are able to understand this would help to make it easy for us, so I am happy with the initiative you have made to give us some courses in Chinese language,” said Nyok IN Juba on Wednesday during the graduation ceremony.
“I hope it (relationship) will continue and we request if possible for those who apply for basic medical Chinese language should be given more advanced training so that they will be useful in helping us in communication between you (Chinese) and us,” he added.
Nyok said that the medical language courses will go a long way in strengthening ties between China and South Sudan.
The training that commenced in June was conducted by the eighth batch of the Chinese medical team in the youngest nation.
The team from Anhui Province arrived in August last year in the country to boost health care services as the country recovers from more than six years of conflict.
Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan lauded the South Sudanese medics and the team of Chinese doctors upon concluding the training.
“Chinese language is really quite difficult it is not only about reading, spelling but also about the writing, to me it is more difficult in the way that thousands of Chinese characters is totally different system with English,” said Hua.
He disclosed that the language course will strengthen people-to-people exchanges and relationship between the countries.
“So as we are celebrating this year the 10th anniversary of our diplomatic relationship established ten years ago, I am actually expecting to see the development of the people –to-people exchange, it is the most important part of our relationship,” he said.
Hua noted that the development of bilateral relationship aims to improve the wellbeing of the two peoples.
Adding, that cooperation in the health sector is one of the top priorities of the Chinese government because it delivers health care service to the people.
“We are very glad to see the training that has been completed has helped to bridge the language barrier between the Chinese and the South Sudanese colleagues and it also helps to bring closer the hearts of our two people,” said Hua.
“So I am here to congratulate you on the successful completion of the Chinese medical language training course it is very good beginning and I am sure that we will continue with such kind of training program,” he added.
