Nicaragua First Country in Hemisphere to Receive Chinese Hospital Ship

Chinese hospital ship Silk Road Ark, with a crew of more than 400 doctors, nurses and auxiliary personnel arrived in Nicaragua’s Corinto Port to attend patients free of charge and to share experiences with Nicaraguan medical professionals.

Nicaragua is the first country in the hemisphere to receive a visit from the hospital ship Silk Road Ark, as a symbol of solidarity from the People’s Republic of China.

“We recognize the friendship, solidarity, cooperation, and respect shown by the People’s Republic of China toward the peoples of the world and, in this case, toward our blessed Nicaragua,” said Rosario Murillo, Co-President of the Republic, in an announcement of the arrival of the Silk Road Ark.

This ship is part of “Harmony Mission 2025,” China’s humanitarian initiative to provide free medical care and strengthen international ties. So far, it has visited Fiji and Tonga, providing 3,330 consultations and performing 426 surgeries in Fiji, and treating more than 5,000 people in Tonga.

Silk Road Ark is the latest ocean-going hospital ship designed and built by China, with capacity to perform more than 60 types of medical procedures and see 300 patients at a time. With a crew of more than 400, the ship has 14 clinical departments and seven auxiliary diagnostic units. An onboard helicopter enhances its emergency medical rescue capabilities.

Silk Road Ark was docked in Nicaragua’s Corinto Port from 10 to 14 November. During that time, Chinese doctors worked together with Nicaraguan specialists to see 1,125 patients from the Chinandega area free of charge. The international teams attended patients needing specialized medical support — from pediatrics to gynecology, obstetrics to internal medicine, orthopedics to urology. They carried out exams on patients’ eyes, ears, noses, throats, hearts, kidneys, gastro intestinal tracts — and tested for infectious diseases. The team also did ultrasounds, surgeries, and attended patients using traditional Chinese medicine.

In addition, specialists from China and Nicaragua held a meeting to share experiences on topics such as robotic surgery, chronic kidney disease, congenital heart disease, maternal and fetal health, and breast cancer.

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Speaking at the opening ceremonies, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nicaragua, Qu Yuhui, expressed hopes that this Peace Ship will serve as a vehicle for the seeds of friendship between the navies of both countries to take deep root and foster a spirit of peace and cooperation, which will be passed down from generation to generation in further relations between China and Nicaragua.

“We are extremely grateful and will continue to advance this relationship of brotherhood, cemented by the relationship between our parties, the Sandinista National Liberation Front and the Communist Party of China,” said Laureano Ortega Murillo, Nicaraguan Presidential Advisor for the Promotion of Investment, Trade, and International Cooperation, speaking at the closing ceremonies.

“So, on behalf of our people and our government, we express our gratitude, our love, and our affection to the people and government of the People’s Republic of China.”

(Sovereign Media)