Traditional Chinese medicine is seeing a rise in popularly in Ethiopia. Patients are receiving treatment at the Chinese backed Tirunesh Beijing Hospital/Ethio Chinese Friendship Hospital in Addis Ababa.
“The Chinese doctors use acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion and other techniques to treat neck, shoulder, waist and leg pains, nerve dysfunction and some mental and psychological disorders,” said Liu Ruiqiang, who is the leader of the 22nd batch of Chinese Medical Team in Ethiopia. According to the team leader, the two highly experienced Chinese acupuncturists can treat about 25 Ethiopian patients a day, helping more than 700 locals relieve from physical pains every month. “We have been treating diseases such as body, muscle and joint pains, paralysis, and migraine since our arrival at the hospital’s acupuncture treatment center nine months ago,” said Lin Guoping, one of the Chinese acupuncturists. Lin said he sees an increasing number of patients who are referred to the center and undergo acupuncture therapy, an ancient Chinese medicine-based approach to treating a variety of conditions by triggering specific points on the skin with needles.
Apart from treating the locals, the acupuncture center serves as a platform where Chinese doctors are imparting the knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine to fellow Ethiopian health professionals. Seble Mamo, who serves as the chief Ethiopian acupuncturist in the center, said the Chinese acupuncture is reaching more needy people, helping to cure locals from a variety of illnesses such as headaches, blood pressure, and sleeping problems, among others. “Unlike other modern-day treatments, the acupuncture therapy is much preferable among Ethiopians as it is administered without side-effects,” said Mamo. Mamo said she is happy working with the Chinese acupuncturists from whom she draws good knowledge and experience. She recommends the acupuncture health education to be given in Ethiopian universities to serve the over 110 million population of the east African nation.
