About 100 children from the Namibia Children's Home received free medical check-ups from a visiting Chinese medical team.
This event was made possible through collaboration between the Office of the First Lady and the Chinese Embassy.
In order to protect the privacy of the minors, the media was not permitted to film or capture images of the children during the event. These measures ensure the confidentiality and safety of the children involved.
The physical examinations primarily consisted of ophthalmic, oral, dermatic, and cardiac testing, including scoliosis screening.
The First Lady of Namibia, Monica Geingos, highlighted that Africa's population is growing at a rate three times faster than the global average.
By 2070, the continent is projected to become the most populous region in the world.
"Today, OAFLAD is honoured to partner again with the Chinese First Lady in this "Warm Children's Hearts" initiative to facilitate Chinese medical teams in providing free medical check-ups to children in orphanages in 50 African countries. As we speak, Africa currently has the youngest population, and to harness the potential of this demographic dividend, we must ensure that young people are healthy, educated, loved, and protected from harm."
The Chinese Ambassador to Namibia expressed that the two governments have a longstanding relationship, particularly in the area of medical aid missions.
"Since 1996, with the support of the Namibian Government and the Ministry of Health in particular, a total of 15 Chinese medical teams from Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine have come to work in Katutura State Hospital to provide the general public with traditional Chinese medical services such as acupuncture and massage, with around 9000 patients treated in 2022 alone."
Deputy Minister of Disability Affairs, Alexia Manombe-Ncube, elaborated on the Namibia Children's Home.
"The Namibia Children's Home is a residential child care facility, fully funded by the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, and functions as a safe haven for children coming from underprivileged circumstances such as abuse, poverty, and orphanhood. The NHC offers various services to all children in need of care placed at the facility in terms of the Child Care Protection Act."
Helen Siamwanda, the principal of the children's home, expressed her gratitude to the visiting medical team, stating that they will leave a positive and lasting impression in the hearts of the children.
Professor Huang Shuwei, the head of the medical team, affirmed that children's health is always their top priority.