By Liu Shaowei, Wu Xingyu and Lou Sijia
BEIJING, Sept. 21 -- Ophthalmology experts aboard the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark, which is carrying out the Mission Harmony-2024, successfully performed eye surgery on a 74-year-old veteran who was one of the first batch of students from the Republic of Congo to study in China.
Mfoutou Antoine was once one of the first batch of military students from the Republic of Congo to study in China in 1970. He was then a 20-year-old navy soldier. When he finished his studies and prepared to return home, he was warmly received by Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai as one of the military students from the Republic of Congo.
Recently, after Mfoutou Antoine came to the hospital ship Peace Ark for treatment, the Chinese ophthalmology experts conducted a number of special ophthalmic examinations on him, and successfully completed cataract phacoemulsification surgery for him. After the surgery, Mfoutou Antoine's vision was improved significantly.
As of September 19, 2024, the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark has paid friendly visits and provided medical service to Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa and Angola. In the Republic of the Congo, the hospital ship has treated 3,220 people, and performed 88 surgeries and 1,814 assisted examinations.