Feature: Where healing is a needle away, China's acupuncture brings relief for Zanzibar patients

by Xinhua writer Hua Hongli

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, May 7 (Xinhua) -- For 26-year-old Tanzanian Hassan Jumbe, those sleepless nights were laden with pain and stress.

Night after night, relentless headaches haunted the young construction worker, a dull, throbbing pain that robbed him of rest and focus. Though he tried everything from over-the-counter medication to home remedies, nothing seemed to offer relief.

Later, a friend mentioned an acupuncture clinic at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, where doctors from China used fine silver needles to ease pain. Skeptical but desperate, Jumbe decided to give it a go.

Mnazi Mmoja Hospital is the region's main public healthcare facility, where the Chinese medical team are based. "Mnazi Mmoja" means "one coconut tree" in the Swahili language.

"I thought it was a joke at first. Needles for healing headaches, really?" Jumbe told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"But after the first session, I felt a sense of relief. By the third session, my headaches were nearly gone," he recalled, rubbing his temple where the needles had once been inserted. "It's not just the treatment. The doctors are so attentive, so patient. It feels like they genuinely care."

Jumbe is among more than 120,000 patients who have experienced the healing touch of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Zanzibar, where Chinese medical teams have provided care since 1964.

Over the decades, more than 30 Chinese TCM doctors have worked in rotation on the island, offering acupuncture, tuina (therapeutic massage), and herbal remedies.

Inside a modest clinic at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Li Dengke, a TCM doctor from China's Jiangsu Province, moved with precision. His steady hands inserted each needle, his calm voice soothing anxious patients. For him, TCM is not merely about technique but a deep understanding of the human body and the silent conversation between healer and patient.

"I have seen patients come in with pain and leave with relief, but it is more than that," Li said. "Every needle carries care. Every touch is a message."

Fatma Ally Abdallah, a 30-year-old nurse, observed carefully, her hands steady, as she prepared the next patient. She was no longer just an observer. Since 2021, she has been learning TCM techniques under the guidance of Chinese doctors. What began as curiosity has grown into a skill she now practices with confidence.

"At first, it seemed so complex. But the Chinese doctors were patient. They taught me acupuncture, explained the meridian system, and even guided me in selecting treatment points," she said, adjusting the needles for a patient suffering from lower back pain. "Now I can perform acupuncture independently."

Chen Wei, the leader of the 34th Chinese medical team in Zanzibar, explained that their mission is to treat and teach.

"We focus on two aspects. First, we conduct formal training sessions where local doctors and nurses learn TCM techniques, both theoretical and practical. Second, we encourage them to practice in real cases, building confidence and skills," he said.

Today, several local doctors and nurses are capable of independently performing basic TCM procedures. They apply tuina, administer cupping therapy, and explain TCM concepts to curious patients.

Looking out from the clinic's rain-streaked window, Chen reflected on the journey of the Chinese medical team. "It's not just about the needles," he said softly. "It's about the hearts they touch." Enditem