ACCRA, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Bombarded with inquiry calls while at work, Yuan Feng, an acupuncturist of the Chinese medical team in Ghana, felt a mixture of tiredness and happiness.
"I was aware that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was popular among Ghanaians before I came here, but I am still surprised that the popularity was so much," said Yuan, who is now an on-call doctor at the China-Ghana Friendship Hospital.
According to Yuan, many local patients who suffered from diseases such as headache and insomnia, have gradually recovered through acupuncture therapy, while people's moderate symptoms like backache could be immediately alleviated.
"Those recovered are like billboards that help promote TCM. After all, efficacy speaks louder than words," Yuan said, adding that the acupuncture consulting room alone has been visited by more than 60 patients within a month.
China has sent nine batches of medical teams to Ghana over the years. The medical teams, which consist of professional doctors from China's top hospitals, have played a key part in saving people's lives together with local medical workers.
Sandra, a Ghanaian doctor at the China-Ghana Friendship hospital, said her passion for TCM, acupuncture, in particular, was ignited by frequent communication with Chinese colleagues in the hospital.
"Now I have grasped some acupuncture techniques, and that helps me serve my patients better," said Sandra.
Shi Yongyong, chief of the Chinese medical team in Ghana, told Xinhua that he could fully feel the Ghanaian counterpart's curiosity and enthusiasm for TCM have been growing over the past years, and TCM would benefit more locals with the joint efforts of both Chinese and Ghanaian doctors.
Confronting the tricky COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Shi believed the TCM has an even larger role to play in the fight against the virus.
"TCM therapies like acupuncture and moxibustion have proved effective in improving people's immunity, which is vital to the prevention and treatment of the disease," he said.
"I have every confidence in Ghana's success in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic," Shi added.
