By Liu Zhilei and Yang Xiaolin
COTONOU, Benin, Oct. 25 -- At around 10:00 a.m., October 24, local time, the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark, which is on the Mission Harmony-2024, wrapped up its maiden visit to Benin and departed from the port of Cotonou in Benin.
During the seven-day visit, the ship Peace Ark provided medical service for 8,122 patients and conducted 3,297 auxiliary medical examinations and tests, setting a record for the highest number of treatments at a single stop since the mission. It also succeeded in performing 137 surgeries, including a robot-assisted renal cyst unroofing and decompression surgery, which is also the first remote surgery conducted via the domestic ship-borne surgical robot onboard the ship Peace Ark.
The Beninese side held a grand farewell ceremony at the dock before the ship left the port. Beninese military and political officials and local people, staff of the Chinese Embassy in Benin, and representatives of Chinese-funded institutions and overseas Chinese came to the dock to see the ship off. According to the plan, Peace Ark will head for Mauritania, the 11th stop of the mission.