FG Welcomes Chinese Navy Hospital Ship, Says Medical Outreach Will Strengthen Nigeria-China Health Ties
The Federal Government has welcomed the planned medical outreach by the Chinese Navy Hospital Ship, Ark of Peace (Hull 868), describing the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening bilateral health cooperation and improving access to healthcare services in Nigeria.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, expressed appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese diplomatic mission and other stakeholders for facilitating the proposed visit.
Pate said the initiative would deepen Nigeria-China relations while creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, professional collaboration and improved healthcare delivery.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to prioritising the health and well-being of Nigerians through stronger healthcare services across primary, secondary and tertiary levels, as well as effective public health interventions.
The minister also pledged to brief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the development, noting that international partnerships of this nature could contribute to building stronger and more responsive healthcare systems.
He emphasised the need for sustained engagement among government institutions and relevant stakeholders to ensure effective coordination and maximise the benefits of the humanitarian mission.
Pate wished the hospital ship and its medical team a successful mission, expressing hope that the engagement would strengthen the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and China and open new opportunities for cooperation in the health sector.
The proposed medical outreach, scheduled for November 10–17, 2026, in Lagos, was presented during a coordination meeting by the representative of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Senior Colonel Ouyang Haisheng, Defence Attaché.
Haisheng explained that the mission would provide medical services to Nigerians while promoting professional collaboration between Chinese and Nigerian healthcare practitioners.
He described the Ark of Peace as a fully equipped floating hospital with a displacement of approximately 16,000 tonnes, eight operating theatres and more than 100 doctors and other medical personnel.
According to him, the vessel is expected to serve as the primary medical platform for the exercise, with the capacity to attend to approximately 600 or more patients daily during the main service period, subject to operational arrangements.
The planned services include medical consultations, physical examinations, laboratory investigations, diagnostic imaging, surgical procedures and cataract-related treatment under the Brightness Initiative.
The Chinese medical team is also expected to demonstrate traditional Chinese medicine techniques, including acupuncture, moxibustion and scraping therapy, while exploring opportunities for joint clinical activities with Nigerian medical professionals.
Beyond services aboard the vessel, mobile medical teams are expected to visit underserved communities and selected institutions, including schools, orphanages, homes for older persons and disability centres.
Temporary medical facilities may also be established at accessible locations, such as stadiums, churches and schools, to extend healthcare services to more residents.
Haisheng disclosed that China’s overseas medical missions began in 2010 and had provided healthcare services to hundreds of thousands of patients across different countries.
He expressed optimism that the proposed visit would strengthen bilateral health cooperation through improved access to medical services, knowledge sharing and professional development.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, described the initiative as a high-priority government-to-government engagement that would further strengthen cooperation among Nigeria, Lagos State and China.
Abayomi, who participated in the coordination meeting virtually from London while on official assignment, disclosed that Lagos State had established a multidisciplinary committee comprising health strategists and specialists from major general hospitals to coordinate the exercise.
He said the state was working with relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Navy, security agencies and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, to ensure proper coordination, regulatory compliance and operational readiness.
According to him, the seven-day outreach would combine onshore medical services at selected general hospitals along the Lagos Marina axis with referrals of selected cases requiring advanced specialist attention to the hospital ship.
He explained that the arrangement would support effective patient triage, ease logistical challenges and maximise available medical expertise.
The commissioner also proposed extending the exercise to hard-to-reach riverine communities across Lagos State, using the vessel’s waterborne capabilities and available boats to reach underserved populations.
He added that the mission would provide opportunities for academic and professional exchanges between Nigerian health officials and Chinese medical specialists on clinical practices, specialised services and healthcare delivery models.
Abayomi assured the coordinating minister of Lagos State’s readiness to work with the Nigerian Navy and other relevant authorities to facilitate the mission.
He also disclosed plans to arrange a courtesy visit involving the Chinese diplomatic mission, the Lagos State Governor and other senior government officials to formally welcome the delegation.
The commissioner expressed confidence that the initiative would deliver mutual benefits, strengthen bilateral relations and create opportunities for sustained healthcare cooperation.
Providing an update on professional registration, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Professor Fatima Kyari, said the council had verified the professional status of the participating doctors and completed their licensing.
Kyari explained that the regulatory measures were designed to protect patients and ensure Nigerians received appropriate specialist care during the humanitarian exercise.
She added that temporary registrations had been issued with restrictions limiting the participating doctors to designated service locations and a specified period.
Similarly, the representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Surgeon Commodore Momoh Jimoh Salihu, assured stakeholders of adequate security arrangements throughout the exercise.
He described the planned outreach as a welcome development that would improve access to medical services and strengthen international cooperation.
