By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has welcomed a planned seven-day medical outreach by the Chinese Navy hospital ship, Ark of Peace, in Lagos, with the vessel expected to provide healthcare services to at least 600 patients daily from November 10 to 17, 2026.
The outreach will provide medical consultations, diagnostic investigations, surgical procedures and cataract treatment, alongside plans to extend healthcare services to underserved communities and vulnerable populations.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria-China health cooperation and improve access to specialist medical services.
Pate expressed appreciation to the Chinese government, the Chinese ambassador and other stakeholders for facilitating the hospital ship’s visit, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to prioritising the health and well-being of Nigerians.
He said he would brief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the development, noting that the mission would also promote knowledge exchange and professional collaboration between Nigerian and Chinese healthcare workers.
The minister stressed the importance of sustained engagement among relevant government institutions and stakeholders to ensure effective coordination and maximise the benefits of the humanitarian initiative.
Presenting details of the proposed outreach, the Chinese Embassy’s Defence Attaché representative, Senior Colonel Ouyang Haisheng, said the Ark of Peace (Hull 868) would serve as the principal medical platform for the exercise.
He disclosed that the approximately 16,000-tonne vessel was equipped with eight operating theatres and more than 100 doctors and other medical personnel, with the capacity to attend to at least 600 patients daily during the main service period, subject to operational arrangements.
The proposed services include physical examinations, laboratory investigations, diagnostic imaging, surgical procedures and cataract-related treatment under the Brightness Initiative.
The Chinese medical team will also demonstrate traditional Chinese medicine techniques, including acupuncture, moxibustion and scraping therapy, while exploring opportunities for joint clinical activities with Nigerian medical professionals.
Beyond ship-based services, mobile medical teams are expected to visit 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 expand access to healthcare services.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, said the state had established a multidisciplinary committee comprising health strategists and specialists from major general hospitals to coordinate the mission.
Abayomi, who participated virtually in the coordination meeting from London while on official assignment, described the initiative as a high-priority government-to-government engagement.
He said the state was collaborating with the Nigerian Navy, security agencies and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to ensure regulatory compliance, security and operational readiness.
According to him, the outreach will combine onshore medical services at selected general hospitals along the Lagos Marina axis with referrals of patients requiring advanced specialist attention to the hospital ship.
He also proposed extending the medical services to hard-to-reach riverine communities across Lagos State, leveraging the ship’s waterborne capabilities and available boats to reach underserved populations.
On regulatory preparations, 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.
She explained that temporary registrations had been issued with restrictions limiting the doctors to designated service locations and specified periods to protect patients and ensure appropriate specialist care.
Similarly, the representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Surgeon Commodore Momoh Jimoh Salihu, assured stakeholders of adequate security arrangements throughout the exercise, describing the outreach as a welcome development.
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The Chinese representative, Haisheng, said China’s overseas medical missions began in 2010 and had provided healthcare services to hundreds of thousands of patients in different countries.
He expressed optimism that the November mission would strengthen bilateral relations, improve access to medical services and create opportunities for sustained collaboration between Nigerian and Chinese healthcare professionals.
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