China military hospital ship provides medical services to Tonga (linked to Record ID#65343)

On August 13, the Peace Ark hospital ship of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy arrived at the port of Nukualofa, Vuna Wharf in Tonga for a 7-day visit.

While providing various medical services, the hospital ship also sent its medical team to local hospitals to carry out surgical operations in cooperation with the medical staff of Tonga, and set up medical teams to pay rounds of visits to remote islands and islets to provide diagnosis and treatment services.

In addition, it also sent its teams to local schools and centers for the disabled to give diagnosis and treatment and carry out donation activities.

The ship departed on Wednesday, 20 August after a week of providing free medical services that included 39 surgeries, including removing a bullet from a Tongan who had been shot while he was in the United States. Medical teams were also dispatched to the Vaiola Hospital.

Patients on ‘Eua Island also received free assistance when a team flew to the island on board the vessel’s medical helicopter. Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.