Zhang Yueming, a surgeon at the Third Hospital of Changsha, Hunan province, embarked on his first mission to Africa in March last year.

2024年3月,，湖南省長(zhǎng)沙市第三醫(yī)院普通外科醫(yī)師張?jiān)旅魇状伪慌赏侵迗?zhí)行任務(wù),。

Initially planning a one-year stint, he voluntarily extended his service until March 2026, driven by the urgent need to bridge gaps in Zimbabwe's healthcare system and his commitment to fostering Sino-African solidarity.

最初他計(jì)劃在非洲工作一年,，但由于津巴布韋醫(yī)療體系存在迫切需要填補(bǔ)的缺口,，而他出于促進(jìn)中非團(tuán)結(jié)的信念,，于是自愿申請(qǐng)將服務(wù)期延長(zhǎng)至2026年3月,。

The 42-year-old is a member of the 21st Chinese (Hunan) Medical Aid Team to Zimbabwe.

42歲的張?jiān)旅麽t(yī)生是中國(guó)（湖南）第21批援津醫(yī)療隊(duì)的一員,。

The 11-person team recently received the Medal for Meritorious Service, the nation's highest honor for meritorious service to Zimbabwe.

這支由11人組成的醫(yī)療隊(duì)最近榮獲津巴布韋共和國(guó)卓越勛章，這是津巴布韋授予為該國(guó)做出卓越貢獻(xiàn)者的最高榮譽(yù),。

Upon arriving at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Zimbabwe's largest public hospital, Zhang observed outdated surgical practices.

在抵達(dá)津巴布韋最大的公立醫(yī)院帕瑞仁雅塔（Parirenyatwa）醫(yī)院后,，張?jiān)旅靼l(fā)現(xiàn)當(dāng)?shù)氐耐饪剖中g(shù)操作方式陳舊過時(shí)。

Determined to elevate standards, he emphasized reduced trauma and faster recovery. His first demonstration, a high-stakes surgery on a 43-year-old woman weighing over 100 kilograms, became a turning point.

他決心要提高醫(yī)術(shù)水平,，強(qiáng)調(diào)要減少手術(shù)創(chuàng)傷并加快患者康復(fù)速度,。他首次示范的高難度手術(shù),，其患者是一名體重超過100公斤的43歲女性，而這次手術(shù)也成為了一個(gè)轉(zhuǎn)折點(diǎn),。

The patient's gallbladder was severely inflamed and adhered to surrounding tissues, complicating the procedure.

該患者的膽囊嚴(yán)重發(fā)炎且與周圍組織粘連,，這使得手術(shù)過程更加復(fù)雜。

With antiquated equipment and unfamiliar staff, Zhang meticulously navigated the challenges, completing the surgery in under 30 minutes, earning admiration from local colleagues.

在設(shè)備陳舊且對(duì)同事不熟悉的情況下,，張?jiān)旅鲊?yán)謹(jǐn)應(yīng)對(duì)各種挑戰(zhàn),，在30分鐘內(nèi)完成了手術(shù)，贏得了當(dāng)?shù)赝碌恼J(rèn)可與欽佩,。

"My goal is to share China's advanced medical expertise so Zimbabwean people can benefit," he said.

他表示：“我的目標(biāo)是分享中國(guó)先進(jìn)的醫(yī)學(xué)專業(yè)知識(shí),，讓津巴布韋人民從中受益?！?/p>

The team has faced logistical nightmares: borrowing ultrasonic scalpels from private hospitals, improvising with scarce surgical supplies and navigating delays caused by patients' inability to afford treatment, he said.

他指出,，醫(yī)療隊(duì)面臨著許多后勤方面的難題，如需從私立醫(yī)院借用超聲手術(shù)刀,、手術(shù)耗材稀缺等,，還要應(yīng)對(duì)因患者無力承擔(dān)治療費(fèi)用而導(dǎo)致的延誤。

Beyond surgeries, Zhang has prioritized capacity-building. During his first year, he conducted over 100 procedures, trained local surgeons through hands-on workshops and organized virtual academic forums to introduce cutting-edge techniques.

除了執(zhí)行手術(shù),，張?jiān)旅鬟€將能力建設(shè)放在首位,。在援非之旅第一年里，他完成了100多臺(tái)手術(shù),，通過實(shí)操工坊培訓(xùn)當(dāng)?shù)赝饪漆t(yī)生,，并組織線上學(xué)術(shù)論壇來引進(jìn)前沿技術(shù)。

The surgeon's contributions have extended beyond hospital walls, with him leading medical outreach to remote regions, braving arduous 10-hour drives to treat over 400 patients, often in makeshift clinics overwhelmed by crowds.

這位外科醫(yī)生的付出遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)不止在醫(yī)院內(nèi),，他還帶領(lǐng)醫(yī)療隊(duì)前往偏遠(yuǎn)地區(qū)開展醫(yī)療服務(wù),，頂著困難驅(qū)車10個(gè)小時(shí)去為400多名患者治療，時(shí)常在人滿為患的臨時(shí)診所里忙碌,。

"Chinese doctors are trusted here," he said, reflecting on the gratitude of locals who line up for free consultations and minor surgeries.

“中國(guó)醫(yī)生在這里很受信任,。” 他說,，想到當(dāng)?shù)厝伺抨?duì)等候免費(fèi)問診和做完微型手術(shù)后流露出的感激之情,，他感慨萬千。

The decision to extend his service stemmed from professional and personal convictions.

出于自身的職業(yè)道德和個(gè)人信念,，張?jiān)旅鳑Q定延長(zhǎng)自己的援非服務(wù)期,。

Life in Zimbabwe tested his resilience. Frequent power outages, water shortages and the omnipresent risk of HIV exposure demanded constant vigilance.

津巴布韋的生活考驗(yàn)著他的韌性。頻繁的停電,、缺水以及無處不在的艾滋感染風(fēng)險(xiǎn),，都需要他時(shí)刻保持警惕。

"Protective gear is stifling, but necessary," he said.

“雖然防護(hù)裝備讓人憋悶,，但必不可少,?！?他說。

Despite these hardships, Zhang has found warmth in Zimbabwe's temperate climate, the professionalism of local medical workers and the profound appreciation of communities he has served in.

盡管困難重重,，但津巴布韋溫和的氣候,、當(dāng)?shù)蒯t(yī)務(wù)工作者的專業(yè)精神以及社區(qū)群眾的深切感激，都讓張?jiān)旅鲝闹懈惺艿搅藵M滿溫暖,。

"Zimbabwe's beauty — rolling highlands reminiscent of China's Yunnan province — and the warmth of its people offered solace," he said.

“津巴布韋很美,，連綿起伏的高地讓人想起中國(guó)的云南省，而且這里的人們很熱情,，這給了我許多慰藉,。” 他說,。

Personal sacrifices weighed heavily. Video calls with his 9-year-old son in Changsha were intermittent due to spotty Wi-Fi, yet his son's pride in his father's work fueled Zhang's resolve.

個(gè)人犧牲有時(shí)也會(huì)讓他頓感沉重,。由于無線網(wǎng)絡(luò)信號(hào)不穩(wěn)定，張?jiān)旅髋c9歲兒子的視頻通話時(shí)斷時(shí)續(xù),，但孩子對(duì)他工作的驕傲感增強(qiáng)了他的信心,。

Zhang said he feels very happy that his son understands his career and his choice to leave home and go to Africa, but he is not sure that he wants his son to follow his path, because he worries about the toll this career takes.

張?jiān)旅髡f，他很高興兒子理解他的職業(yè)以及他離家前往非洲的選擇,，但出于對(duì)這份職業(yè)所需代價(jià)的擔(dān)憂,，他不確定是否希望兒子追隨他的腳步。

The surgeon said he's seeing the great work of the medical teams being passed on. "We aim to leave behind a 'permanent medical team' — a skilled local workforce," he said.

這位外科醫(yī)生表示,，他見證著中國(guó)援非醫(yī)療隊(duì)事業(yè)的代代傳續(xù)?！拔覀兊哪繕?biāo)是留下一支‘帶不走的醫(yī)療隊(duì)’——一支技術(shù)嫻熟的當(dāng)?shù)蒯t(yī)療隊(duì)伍,。” 他說,。