from：Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Xiangyang Municipality July 12, 2019

An African “student” comes in Xiangyang No.1 People’s Hospital (Hereinafter referred to as the city’s No.1 hospital).

He has a short curly hair, black and shiny skin, a medium body of 1.7-meter height, and wears white coat printed with letters “DR. T.A.AJADI RADIOLOGY” (doctor AJADI in radiology department). A “student card” on his chest indicats that he is for a “further study”. He often participates in clinical examinations in the hospital’s ultrasound department, learning and exchanging professional knowledge with medical staff. A pair of black-rimmed glasses, a black pen, a pink notebook and a mobile phone are always putted in his pocket so that he can take pictures, record knowledge and new things around him at any time. His name is Ajadi Taofeek Abiodunla (hereinafter referred to as Ajadi), a doctor from Oshogbo, Nigeria.

Travel across the sea to study in Xiangyang with the help of international bridges.

Ajadi is the third batch of visiting scholars that Xiangyang’s sister city Oshogbo sent to Xiangyang.

It is reported that Xiangyang established a relationship with Oshogbo in 2011. The two sides agreed to build a bridge for city-to-city exchanges, cooperations and interactions, actively promote cooperation in learning and mutually beneficial and development between cities, and reached a cooperation agreement for medical assistance. In recent years, Oshogbo has dispatched three batches of six doctors to train and study in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, radiology and ultrasound of the No.1 hospital, achieving good results and have been recognized and supported by all parties.

“Some colleagues spent 8 weeks before to go to Xiangyang for free training. They came back with good stories and encouraged us to come to Xiangyang to learn new things.” Having heard his colleagues’ studying experience in Xiangyang, Ajadi showed great interests in advanced medical technology and equipment they’ve mentioned, and was full of longing for China. “I determined to go to Xiangyang for training and studying.”

It was the first time he had left Africa. To successfully complete this trip for study, Ajadi with 17 years of medical work experience spent the savings that he has saved for two years and took the 18-hour “international flight” of Xiangyang from the western Africa and across the Indian Ocean to the eastern China. For him who didn’t know Chinese at all, everything was unfamiliar. When he was deeply worried about the unknown journey, one after another warm-hearted people that he has never known before asked if he needs help and guided him enthusiastically, which made Ajadi very touched.

“Ajadi, welcome to Xiangyang!” On June 16th, Ajadi arrived in Xiangyang after a moving and novel journey. The staff of Xiangyang Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and the representative of the No.1 Hospital expressed their warm welcome to his arrival.

Grasp the learning opportunity and work hard to explore new knowledge

Ajadi is the only Nigerian representative in the radiology department.

At first, he was introduced to the radiology department of the No.1 hospital for studying and exchanging. He saw 320 rows of X-ray computed tomographic scanners here for the first time. The availability of the equipment here surprised him beacuse there were only 128 rows in hospitals he worked. For the first time, he had a medical exchange with Chinese. The diligence and dedication of the medical staff and warm and friendly Chinese help Ajadi integrate into the big family very soon.

Out of curiosity about the ultrasound department and the enthusiasm for exploring new knowledge, Ajadi volunteered to go to the ultrasound department for in-depth study and communication a week later. Under the leadership of Wang Yu, deputy director of the Department of Ultrasound, and Zhang Jiaqi, the head of the laboratory, Ajadi visited the biomedical laboratory of the ultrasound department. Ajadi was amazed at the management of the laboratory’s orderly norms and the results achieved in recent years. For more than 600 patients reception a day, Ajadi said that it was the annual reception of the provincial hospital he works in; for more than 30 examination rooms in the ultrasound department, Ajadi exclaimed “we only have two there. There is too much difference!”

To help Ajadi to better communicate, learn and exchange, the department of ultrasound of the No.1 Hospital specially sent a translator to explain the case of the department for Ajadi. The two volunteers introduced the composition and basic information of the department. He was also invited to fully participate in the CT and MRI scans of rare cases.

With the help of other people, Ajadi quickly entered the learning state. Whether it is the meeting at 7:30 in the morning or the over one hour business study in the department at night, he participates on time. After returning home, he will sort out the knowledge learned during the day, and will not have a rest until 11 pm. The notebook he bought for travel has been written with lots of words with few pages left.

“He has a strong interest in sub-specialties such as heart, intervention, body surface, blood vessels, etc. Whenever his colleagues puncture and catheterize, he can't help but raise his thumb,” Wang Yu introduced. After a week of study, Ajadi can successfully implement the computer practice and identify the location of lesion and give an accurate diagnosis under the help of the public.

After learning that Ajadi has a profound academic background and scientific research level, Wang Yu shared with him the classic cases of the department and asked if he was interested in writing the case report. Ajadi was interested in a rare submucous myoma case with a 6cm-diameter uterine fibroid and took the initiative to write this case. After the analysis and discussion with the staff of the department, the preliminary writing of the current case report has been basically completed.

“I want to bring my knowledge back to my hometown and help people at home. “I will also share my experiences and feelings that I have in Xiangyang to people around me, and let them know the hardworking and helpful Xiangyang people.” Ajadi said.

Mutual benefit and win-win helpChina-Africa sister cities take a new step.

For Ajadi, every day in Xiangyang is full of curiosity and hope. In addition to exploring new knowledge, new skills, new equipment, and new products in hospitals, Foreign Affairs Office staff of Xiangyang Municipal, staff at the hospital, and volunteers often guide Ajadi to visit North Street, Ancient City Wall, Xijiachi (Xi’s family garden) and other places of interest, and taste specialties such as Xiangyang beef noodles at their spare time. Ajadi will take pictures or record his findings and feelings on his laptop wherever he visits.

He saw a city that is very different from where he lived in. A clean and harmonious city with no fight and green vegetation everywhere, “It feels very comfortable”. The food here is rich and delicious, especially green vegetables, which makes him eat with joy. He learned here how to use chopsticks, “every time you pick a dish is a kind of enjoyment”. This is a place full of love and vitality, the old people will go out for a walk and dance in the square in the evening. Ajadi has said several times to Zhang Jiaqi, head of laboratory of the ultrasound department at the hospital and his translator, that he feels very lucky to choose to study in Xiangyang. “I will come to Xiangyang again if i have the chance,” Ajadi said.

After nearly a month of study and exchange, the medical staff of the ultrasound department of the No.1 Hospital also established a profound friendship with Ajadi. “His arrival has also brought us a lot of help.” Zhang Jiaqi said. Zhang Jiaqi also noted that Ajadi is enthusiastic and active, and has strong research capabilities. often shares his SCI papers writing experience and clinical work experience, which is of great help to the improvement of hospital medical treatment level.

During the period of studying and living in Xiangyang, the Foreign Affairs Office of Xiangyang Municipal is very concerned about Ajadi, and often contact with him to understand his living conditions and what he needed, help and support him to continue to pursue medical research and education so as to make a difference and bring benefits to his hometown. This kind of pragmatic cooperation between internationally sister cities has achieved the goal of mutual benefit. On the one hand, their medical standards can be improved by the training of doctors; on the other hand, this exchange and cooperation also shows the friendship of the Chinese people and the enthusiasm of the friendly people of Xiangyang. The continuous communication will also promote the construction of the China-Africa medical cooperation platform, promoting the international exchanges and cooperation on medical and health care of Xiangyang to a new level.