Botswana's Health Ministry has hailed a medical breakthrough after the 17th Chinese Medical Team from Fujian province introduced advanced minimally invasive urological surgical techniques at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital, a major medical facility.

The collaboration is integral to the country's broader healthcare strategy, which aims to bridge gaps in specialized care while transferring critical skills to local doctors and nurses, the ministry said.

Ministry spokesman Christopher Nyanga said the cooperation is part of the government's effort to make expertise accessible to all who need it.

"The ministry has benefited a lot from its partnership with the People's Republic of China in the health sector," he said. "The benefits extend from actual provision of specialist health services to skills exchange with local medical teams."

The collaboration has delivered landmark results. Recognizing Nyangabgwe Hospital's lack of lithotripsy equipment, Hu Minxiong, a urologist and leader of the Chinese team, successfully performed Botswana's first laparoscopic pyelolithotomy — a minimally invasive procedure to remove kidney stones.

"The patient resumed ambulation and oral intake on postoperative day one with significantly less pain compared with conventional open surgery, reporting excellent surgical outcomes," Hu said.

Equipped with medical supplies donated by Fujian Provincial Hospital, the team has expanded the scope of routine minimally invasive surgeries at Nyangabgwe Hospital. These include laparoscopic partial and radical nephrectomy, pyeloplasty and ureterolithotomy.

"These advanced techniques have significantly improved patient recovery times and reduced hospital stays, earning high praise from the local community," Hu said.

The partnership aims to meet the hospital's needs for minimally invasive surgery, train local doctors and nurses in advanced techniques, and build sustainable surgical capacity beyond material donations, he said.

Joint project

The Chinese embassy and Botswana's Health Ministry are also discussing the launch of the Fujian Provincial Hospital-Nyangabgwe Hospital Urology Collaboration Project, which would formalize cooperation and ensure long-term support for the country's surgical needs, Hu added.

He expressed confidence that these efforts will significantly enhance urological minimally invasive services at Nyangabgwe Hospital, delivering lasting benefits for Botswana's healthcare system.

China's medical cooperation with Botswana dates back to 1981, with hundreds of Chinese doctors and nurses having served in hospitals across the country.

Beyond providing care, these missions have played a vital role in transferring skills to Botswana's health professionals.

Recently, the 17th Chinese Medical Team achieved another breakthrough at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital by introducing a new anesthesia method, successfully applied during stomach cancer surgery.

The technique combines general anesthesia with a specialized ultrasound-guided pain block, reducing reliance on opioid painkillers, enhancing surgical safety, and improving postoperative pain control.

Spokesman Nyanga said the development aligns with Botswana's strategy to modernize healthcare through digital technology.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.