Feature: Echoes of care: Chinese doctors restore hearing and hope for children in Zanzibar

by Xinhua writers Hua Hongli, Lin Guangyao, Lucas Liganga

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- For Zuhura Khamis, a kindergarten teacher and mother of six on Pemba Island in Tanzania's Zanzibar, relief came when her 13-year-old daughter, Salama, was freed from months of ear pain.

The turning point was a surgery performed by Li Li, an otolaryngologist with the 35th Chinese medical team stationed on Unguja Island, the main island of Zanzibar.

Li recently led a week-long pediatric ear surgery initiative targeting children with otitis media, a widespread yet often undertreated condition in the region.

Using minimally invasive endoscopic techniques, she treated several young patients experiencing chronic ear discharge and hearing loss, enabling them to regain hearing and return to normal daily activities.

Zanzibar's tropical climate and sanitation challenges contribute to the high prevalence of ear infections among children. Limited access to specialized care means many patients live with untreated conditions that interfere with education and, in severe cases, lead to permanent hearing impairment.

Recognizing these challenges, Li conducted detailed assessments of local patients and healthcare infrastructure. She adapted advanced endoscopic surgical methods to suit local conditions, prioritizing safety and faster recovery for young patients.

One beneficiary, a 10-year-old boy who had suffered for years from chronic ear disease, showed marked improvement just days after surgery.

Beyond performing surgeries, Li emphasized sustainability.

She provided hands-on training to local medical staff, transferring essential skills in endoscopic ear surgery and reinforcing clinical best practices.

This approach is crucial in the long-term capacity building within Zanzibar's healthcare system, ensuring continued access to quality ear, nose and throat (ENT) services for local communities.

According to Maulid Bakari Shariff, also known locally as Dr Mao, an ENT specialist and coordinator with the Zanzibar Outreach Program, seven children from Pemba Island underwent successful ear surgeries between Dec. 18 and 20, 2025, at Lumumba Hospital in Unguja.

Shariff praised the strong partnership between Chinese medical teams and local healthcare providers.

The Zanzibar Outreach Program is a charitable organization founded in 2006 by local residents to provide community services across Unguja and Pemba islands.

Shariff also coordinates the organization's School Health Monitoring Program, which plays a key role in improving child health in schools across Zanzibar through early detection and referral.

For parents like Khamis, the impact is deeply personal.

"Li Li truly deserves appreciation for rescuing my child from pain," she said. "The relationship between China and Tanzania should continue, because it has brought us so much benefit."

Li's work reflects a broader legacy of China's overseas medical assistance programs, which for decades have delivered care, expertise, and solidarity across Africa.

Through practical cooperation and people-centered healthcare, such efforts continue to strengthen international partnerships and advance the shared goal of health for all.

China sent its first medical team to Zanzibar in 1964 and to the Tanzanian mainland in 1968. To date, 27 medical teams have served the mainland and 35 in Zanzibar, treating nearly 20 million patients and helping local hospitals fill technical gaps.

The 35th Chinese medical team to Zanzibar arrived in September 2025, including specialists from general surgery, orthopedics, respiratory medicine, cardiology, traditional Chinese medicine, medical imaging, and other disciplines.

Bao Zengtao, the leader of the medical team, said the team will continue to carry out diverse medical outreach activities to help more local residents.

For Khamis, the change is felt most clearly at home. Her daughter has returned to school without pain, able to hear her teachers clearly and to play freely with her classmates once again.

"She can finally sleep well at night," Zuhura said, adding that the surgery has brought peace back to the family after months of worry.

As Salama's laughter fills their home again, Zuhura sees the impact of the Chinese medical team not only in her child's recovery but also in the lasting care and commitment they have shown to the community.

"This help came when we needed it most," she said. "I hope the friendship between China and Tanzania will continue, so that more families like mine can have the same chance." ■