Chinese medical technology firms at the just-ended China-West Africa Medical and Health Industry Expo have pledged to strengthen health service delivery in the region with innovative technologies.
The three-day expo, which concluded Friday in Accra, Ghana’s capital, brought together more than 100 medical technology firms from China and West Africa. Organized by the Health Community of West Africa (HCOWA), a Ghana-based Chinese firm, and the Ghana Health Service, the event sought to promote the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical diagnosis and to deepen collaboration between China and West African countries.
Exhibits mainly included minimally invasive surgical equipment, AI devices for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and general diagnosis, robotic surgery systems, oxygen concentrators, and analyzers. Experts demonstrated their use, with many firms expressing readiness to form partnerships in the region.
“AI is powering health care at different levels in the world, and we want to support West African countries to introduce AI in their health care systems,” Wang Peng, vice president of the marketing center of Minucon Artificial Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), said in an interview with Xinhua.
At the event, the company presented its “AI magic mirror,” which conducts health checks of internal organs in 30 seconds, and its robot nurse assistant, designed to ease the workload of medical staff.
According to Wang, Minucon spent 10 years developing its AI health devices and achieved impressive results in China, adding that “this is our first encounter in Africa, and we have gathered some data that will enable us to adapt our technology and products for Africans.”
Beijing-based CapitalBio Technology Co., Ltd., another exhibitor, specializes in molecular detection products. Its exhibits included integrated TCM-AI machines, automated PCR machines for genetic sequencing, diagnostic chips, micro scanners, and mycobacterium nucleic acid test kits.
Hou Xinru, marketing manager of the firm, was excited about the prospects in the health sector in West Africa.
“We are looking to partner with medical institutions, research laboratories, and pharmaceutical companies. Many of those institutions have visited our exhibition stand and expressed interest in some of our products,” Hou said, adding that CapitalBio has signed a cooperation agreement with HCOWA to facilitate engagement with partners in the region.
Closing the event, Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Health Grace Ayensu-Danquah praised the Chinese companies for bringing advanced technologies, products, and services to West Africa, encouraging them to integrate these offerings into the country’s health agenda.
“We want partnerships that are going to help us change the trajectory of our health systems, our vaccines manufactured here, and our technicians trained on the biomedical equipment you support us with to be able to service them in your absence,” Ayensu-Danquah said.
The deputy minister called for firms to partner with the government of Ghana in the implementation of the new flagship health initiatives, including the free primary health care and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund programs, aimed at easing the financial burden of treatment on Ghanaians. Enditem
Benin marks int’l day for remembrance of slave trade and abolition
OUIDAH, Benin, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) — Afro-descendants together with political, administrative and religious leaders paid tribute on Saturday to the victims of the slave trade in Ouidah, a historic city in southern Benin, on the occasion of the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.
Starting at the Place aux Encheres, a former slave auction site, participants walked about 2 km to the Door of No Return, a symbolic departure point for deportation to the Americas, to honor the memory of their ancestors.
Beninese Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts Jean-Michel Abimbola said the annual commemoration, held on Aug. 23, reminds the Beninese people of the painful history of the deportation of millions of men, women and children.
Bertin Pedro, an Afro-descendant from Haiti, welcomed the initiative, saying it helps strengthen ties between Benin and the African diaspora. He added that Benin has promulgated a law recognizing Afro-descendants of the slave trade and granting them the right to acquire Beninese nationality.
Held under the theme “Memory, Resilience and Future: Honoring the Victims, Building for Tomorrow” this year, the commemoration also brought together researchers, cultural figures and diaspora representatives for discussions on preserving memory and advancing remembrance initiatives. Enditem
Cholera outbreak kills over 60 in eastern Chad
YAOUNDE, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) — At least 63 people have died following a cholera outbreak in eastern Chad, the country’s health ministry said in a statement on Monday.
A total of 938 suspected cases have been recorded, 52 samples analyzed, and 39 cases confirmed in Ouaddai Province, where the outbreak has been ongoing since July, according to the statement.
Early Monday, Public Health Minister Abdelmadjid Abderahim met with health authorities in Abeche, the capital of Ouaddai Province, to discuss strategies to prevent the disease from spreading.
The government has ramped up efforts to curb the spread of the disease, including scaling up water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, Abderahim said during the meeting.
Authorities also called for vigilance and strict adherence to hygiene measures to slow the spread of the disease.
Last month, at least four people died following a cholera outbreak in the Dougui refugee camp in Ouaddai Province. The camp hosts approximately 20,000 Sudanese refugees.
In June, the World Health Organization warned that cholera cases in Sudan were likely to rise and could spread to neighboring countries, including Chad, which hosts hundreds of thousands of refugees from Sudan in crowded conditions. Enditem
Host Angola trounces Mali to win 12th AfroBasket title
LUANDA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) — Angola lifted the championship trophy for a record 12th time at the 31st AfroBasket tournament, defeating Mali 70-43 on Sunday before a sold-out home crowd of 12,700.
Since making its AfroBasket debut in 1964, Mali reached the final for the first time this year.
The game began with high intensity as Angola gained an early edge through strong inside play. It soon developed into a physical back-and-forth contest with frequent fouls, but Angola ended the first quarter ahead 14-10.
Angola broke the game open in the second quarter with a 10-1 run. Mali struggled from beyond the arc, was repeatedly blocked inside, and committed a series of turnovers and fouls that gave Angola additional scoring chances. By halftime, Angola led by 12 points and extended its advantage after the break, cruising to a comfortable victory.
Angola’s 1.67-meter point guard Childe Dundao hit three 3-pointers and finished with 16 points, four rebounds and five assists. He was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
In the third-place game, Senegal overpowered Cameroon 98-72 to claim bronze for the second straight tournament.
The Lions established control early with sharp passing and effective offense, building a 28-14 lead in the first quarter and extending the margin to 21 points by halftime. They maintained dominance in the second half, hitting 14 3-pointers overall and outrebounding Cameroon 48-37.
Four Senegal players scored in double figures, led by Jean-Jacques Boissy with a game-high 40 points, including eight 3-pointers. Brancou Badio added 18 points, five rebounds and four assists, including four shots from beyond the arc. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
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