From March 21 to 22, the fourth batch of the Chinese medical team to Cambodia carried out free clinic services and health education activities in six remote villages in Ou Sang Township, Pursat Province, Cambodia, as well as at the Datang Cambodia Hydropower & Grid Company. Dr. Zhang Xuemei, a member of the team from our hospital's Department of Critical Care Medicine, participated in the entire event, enduring a bumpy six-hour drive to reach the six villages and the company. This rugged journey of international medical aid bore witness to her dedication to spreading the seeds of traditional Chinese medicine and safeguarding the health of grassroots communities with compassion and expertise.
Located in the remote hinterland of Pursat Province, Ou Sang Township is approximately 300 kilometers from the capital, Phnom Penh, and is one of the areas with the weakest medical infrastructure. At 6:00 a.m. on March 21, Zhang Xuemei set off with the medical team, carrying medical supplies and acupuncture needles. After a six-hour drive, the team took a brief lunch break and immediately began providing free clinic services, offering health consultations to the villagers. During the clinic, they encountered several rare and complex cases: a young woman suffering from diabetes insipidus as a result of a head injury from a car accident; and a child with an abnormally enlarged head who had undergone surgery for hydrocephalus but continued to experience recurrent epileptic seizures. In response to these complex conditions, Zhang consulted with her teammates, provided emergency guidance, formulated follow-up treatment plans, and carefully recorded patient information, leaving contact details for future follow-up. For the first time, these remote villagers, who had never seen a specialist, felt the warmth of medical care.
On March 22, Zhang accompanied the team to the Datang Cambodia Hydropower & Grid Company to provide health services for the employees. She led the staff in stretching and relaxing their bodies by demonstrating and teaching the traditional Chinese fitness practice of Baduanjin. In light of the high-temperature working environment in Cambodia, she gave detailed explanations on the prevention of heatstroke and the diagnosis and treatment of coughs, and patiently interpreted medical examination reports for employees on a one-on-one basis. In the experience area for traditional Chinese medicine therapies, she skillfully used acupuncture and auricular acupoint pressing to effectively alleviate symptoms such as neck, shoulder, back, and leg pain, as well as insomnia, which were well received by the employees.
As a member of the fourth batch of Chinese medical team to Cambodia, Zhang Xuemei won high praise from local residents and employees of Chinese-invested enterprises for her superb medical skills and warm-hearted service, vividly embodying the sense of responsibility and dedication of international medical aid workers. She felt the trust of the villagers in Ou Sang Township and witnessed how traditional Chinese medicine has taken root and flourished in the most remote corners of Cambodia.
