Hospital ship arrives for humanitarian exercise

Chinese hospital ship visits Port of Cape Town

SOUTH AFRICA: The Chinese hospital ship, Peace Ark, is visiting the Port of Cape Town for a week to undertake a joint national and interdepartmental exercise for humanitarian medical service between People’s Republic of China and Republic of South Africa.

The vessel has just concluded a mission in Mozambique where she provided medical services for more than 7,300 patients, performed 74 surgeries, including cataract operation, submandibular gland extraction and calculus extraction.

Prior to her visit to Mozambique, the Peace Ark made berthed in Madagascar and the Seychelles.

The ship will be docked at Jetty 2 at the V&A Waterfront for Exercise Harmony as the South African Military Health Service receives the crew who will assist local communities with comprehensive medical care.

With a rescue helicopter on board, the hospital vessel is equipped with more than 100 medical personnel. She will provide independent medical services for her week-long stay with a 600 - 700 outpatient treating capacity and conducting physical medical examinations. 

The fully fledged naval medical vessel will be operating alongside SAMHS well trained and experienced medical staff and personnel in proving health service to the visiting local community of Cape Town and its outskirts. South African National Defence Force high echelon and Provincial Department of Health officials will officiate at this event.

The series of events will culminate on 28 August, with social responsibility programmes and healthy community involvement.

The SA Navy and SA Air Force will provide logistical, technical and engineering support alongside the docked medical vessel of the People’s Republic of China. 

PHOTO: The Peace Ark arrives in Madagascar. (Source: Chinese Armed Forces)
 

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