Chinese medical teams are making a strong impact in Zanzibar, Tanzania, by promoting sanitation and delivering free clinic services – a clear example of China’s long-standing and evolving commitment to health cooperation in East Africa. The 35th Chinese medical team held a free medical outreach in the Botanic Garden area, treating nearly 400 residents through a range of specialist departments.
The services offered were broad and inclusive: ophthalmology, gynecology, respiratory care, general surgery, traditional Chinese medicine, and even acupuncture and massage techniques. Bao Zengtao, head of the Chinese team, emphasized that this wasn’t just about treating sickness – it was about connecting with local communities, improving access to care in rural and underserved zones, and building bridges of understanding between medical traditions.
Back in January 2025, the same 34th Chinese medical team provided free consultations and treatments to about 400 people at Migombani community garden in Zanzibar. The services included not only modern specialties like urology, otolaryngology, and gastroenterology – but also traditional Chinese medicine; medicines were distributed, and the team shared a spirit of humanitarian support and cross-cultural medical exchange.
The contribution of Chinese doctors hasn’t gone unnoticed at the highest level. In August 2025, President Hussein Ali Mwinyi of Zanzibar awarded medals to members of the 34th team and experts from a China-supported schistosomiasis control project – honouring their thousands of free clinic visits, surgical interventions, and their role in dramatically reducing schistosomiasis infection rates.
This medical mission is part of a deeper, multi-decade China-Tanzania cooperation story. China has sent dozens of medical teams to Tanzania (including to Zanzibar) since the 1960s and their works have treated millions. Over time, Chinese teams have not only provided care, but also trained local medical staff, donated surgical supplies, and supported disease-control initiatives.
According to Chinese and Tanzanian sources, these efforts align with China’s broader “Partnership Action for Health” under its global cooperation frameworks. That includes sending medical professionals, sharing technical expertise, and strengthening health systems in strategic partners across Africa.
China’s engagement with Tanzania isn’t limited to healthcare. Cultural exchange has also deepened. China has established Confucius Institutes at the University of Dar es Salaam and other institutions, helping to build people-to-people linkages that reinforce long-term diplomatic and developmental ties.
The free clinics in Zanzibar reflect more than episodic aid; they represent a sustained, people-centered partnership. By combining traditional medicine with surgical care, and by carrying out outreach in rural zones, Chinese medical teams are helping Tanzanians access quality care while strengthening the local health workforce.
