November 2007

Ningxia, Shaanxi and Gansu

The China West medical mission has been providing medical aid to the three poorest provinces in western China, namely Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Shaanxi and Gansu. Most of the people in the mountainous regions are living in extreme poverty and are in desperate need of medical aid. Since 1991, We have been leading medical teams in that region, providing medications, medical/dental supplies, teaching and training local health workers, as well as treating patients and improving the overall health of the people living in these remote regions of China. Over the past seventeen years, we have also established nine “Living (drinking) Water” projects and 13 EMAS hospitals in these regions. There are close to 400 team members who have participated in these EMAS China West medical missions. We have seen many lives changed, not only among the people of China, but also among our team members.



Living Water Project

This area suffers from adverse environmental conditions. "The third world of the third world." EMAS has been helping to solve the critical water shortage and has reduced the number of water-born infections by establishing nine Living Water projects, providing new reservoirs, cisterns and water pipes, which bring spring water to village households.

Gansu Project

Gansu is a remote and under-developed area, considered to be one of the three poorest provinces in China. EMAS Teams visit several village hospitals and the site of a potential water project. The much needed EMAS hospital in Chang Chuan opened its doors in 2007.

Celebrating
Fifteen Years
in Ningxia
1990 - 2005

EMAS Ningxia Medical Mission Team

Fifteen years ago we had only three team members. This year we had the largest EMAS team ever, 46 team members including an allergist, family physicians, dentists, nurses, a pharmicisist, physiotherapists, an occupational therapist, an acupuncturist and other medical personnel. The team unity and harmony have remarkably inspired our friends in Ningxia and our own team members.

Opening the EMAS Xing-Ren Hospital

How do we help these very poor village people living in a remote, mountainous land to improve their medical care? Since 1994 EMAS has been establishing clinic-hospitals in southern Ningxia. On August 15th 2005 the opening ceremony for the EMAS Xing-Ren Hospital took place. This is the 12th and largest EMAS hospital in Ningxia, strategically located in Hai Yuan and serving a population of 20,000 people. There are also three EMAS hospitals in the neighbouring province of Shaanxi.

Training Health Workers

The Training Project for 100 Hai Yuan Health Personnel continues and we are thankful for both students and dedicated teachers. On August 15, 2005 the Hai Yuan Health Department held an evening banquet in celebration of the 15 years that EMAS has been in Ningxia. It was a time of great rejoicing.

The Public Health Bureau of Ningxia has asked EMAS to help fund another three-year training program for the Hai Yuan health personnel.

Medical Aid

For 15 years we have been able to provide medical aid to various hospitals in Ningxia. Each year we give lectures, training, demonstrations, medical and dental care and also do surgery. This year we held two free clinics in Yinchuan as well as in each of the EMAS hospitals. We have also donated equipment, large quantities of medicine and surgical supplies. This year the Hai Yuan Hospital has been renamed the EMAS Hospital in appreciation of our gift of dental equipment.

An Open Door to Gansu Province

Gansu is a remote and economically under-developed province in north west China bordering on Ningxia, Inner Mongolia and Xin Jiang, at a very high altitude of 3,000 metres above sea level. Ningxia, Shaanxi and Gansu are considered the three poorest provinces in China.

In July 2005, four EMAS team members were able to visit several village hospitals in Gansu and the site of a potential village water project. The construction of a new hospital in Chang Chuan village in Lin Tan county is the most urgent. The present hospital is very run down and surrounded by a Tibetan temple, a mosque and cemetry. The hospital is at present unable to serve the population of 10,000 people who have an annual per capita income of less than $150.