WMU hosts the 2nd “Angel of life” for African Midwifery Training Program
· On the morning of July 16, 2019 the 2rd“Angel of life” for African midwifery training program was held at WMU. A total of 25 trainees from nine African countries including Ghana, Zambia and Uganda took part in the program. Dr. Charles Dwamena, Deputy Ambassador for Embassy of the Republic of Ghana and a WMU alumnus, Mr. Ding Lianpu, Director of the Mechanism Affairs Office of China Center for International People to People Exchange of Ministry of Education, and Mr. Cao Jianming, Vice President of WMU, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. The heads of the International Affairs Office, School of International Studies and School of Nursing also attended the ceremony.
At the opening ceremony, Cao introduced the development of WMU from the perspectives of history, student cultivation, international cooperation and exchange, as well as medical charity. He emphasized that WMU is positively in response to the call for win-win initiative for Sino-African cooperation proposed by president Xi Jinping and closely integrated it with our own advantages in disciplines and medical advantages to promote midwifery assistant training courses, provide medical services in Africa and carry out "Medical Belt and Road" activities. WMU has strengthened cooperation with Africa in education and training, and medical talent training. He promised that WMU will make this training program a long-term cooperation project to provide training in midwifery assistant skills for African students studying in China. He hoped the students to cherish this learning opportunity and share what they have learned so as to contribute to the improvement of maternal and newborn health in Africa.
Dr. Charles Dwamena thanked WMU for holding the program for two consecutive years. WMU is his alma mater and he considered Wenzhou as his second hometown. He said, it is a privilege for him to work with his alma mater to contribute to the development of education and medical development in Africa, which are two important cornerstones for national development thus making this program profoundly meaningful and influential. He has deeply appreciated the motto of WMU during his six-year study here, that is, “Humaneness, Reverence, Diligence, Plainness, Make Efforts and Seek Truth”. The practical style of being the first and daring to innovate deserves to be carried forward by alumni. He hoped that the trainees will study hard, practice and actively disseminate midwifery-related knowledge and skills. He encouraged them to truly practice the profound meaning of "Angel of Life", to motivate more African students to join the team of improving medical and medical development in Africa, which will play a positive role in the Sino-African friendly development.
Ding said, Chinese government attaches great importance to the people to people exchanges between China and Africa. WMU has integrated the strategic need of serving the development of China and African with the development of itself and provided medical education, cooperation and assistance to African countries. It has played a prominent role in boosting the training of African talents, enhancing youth exchanges between China and Africa, and promoting youth development in Africa. The ““Angel of life”for African midwifery Assistant training Program equips African students with more relevant knowledge and skills, promotes the improvement of maternal and infant health in Africa, and greatly helps to strengthen the cultural exchanges between China and Africa and promotes the common feelings of Chinese and African people. He also expressed the expectation that WMU would participate in more activities held by China Center for International People to People Exchange, Ministry of Education and promote its development in the fields of education, medical care and social services through the International People to People Exchange platform.
The trainee representative, Mary, from Uganda, took over the flag of the event from Lu Zhongqiu, Dean of the School of Nursing. The training program then commenced with enthusiastic applause. The program is co-sponsored by the China Center for International People to People Exchange of Ministry of Education, Wenzhou Medical University, Beijing Ambridge International Culture Development Co., Ltd. and supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in China and other institutions. The 2-week training program consists of 5 modules, including the basics of obstetric anatomy and physiology, production assistant technology and common emergency management in obstetrics. It also provides Chinese cultural experience courses such as traditional Chinese medicine and paper-cut.
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