(JUBA) – Chinese doctors working at Juba Teaching Hospital have introduced a Mandarin language training programme for South Sudanese medical staff to improve patient care and strengthen relations between the two countries. The initiative aims to ease daily communication challenges between Chinese and South Sudanese staff while fostering deeper cultural understanding.
Among the participants is Emilia Kiddo, a new intern at the hospital, who said learning Mandarin has been both difficult and rewarding.
“To learn Mandarin is not easy, but now I can greet people, say good morning and ask how they are,” she said. Kiddo believes this has helped her interact more effectively with Mandarin speaking patients, building trust and improving service delivery.
She added that the language training strengthens interpersonal relations and boosts cooperation between South Sudan and China. It may also create employment opportunities with Chinese companies operating in the country.
The programme is led by Chinese doctors based at the hospital and runs for two months with weekly lessons. At the end of the training, participants receive a certificate.
Kiddo called on her colleagues to take part and urged for more Mandarin teachers to join the effort, saying the model could be replicated in other hospitals across South Sudan facing language barriers in increasingly globalised health systems.
Another intern, Alice Evan, said the training sparked a deep personal interest in Chinese language and culture.
“It was interesting, and I developed a real interest in learning more,” Evan said. “I hope to visit China one day for further studies or training.”
The weekly classes go beyond just basic Mandarin and include practical medical terms, cultural insights, and even an introduction to Chinese food systems.
“I gained valuable knowledge, even if there is still more to learn,” Evan noted.
Dr Akuol Wol Dhel, a practising medical doctor at the hospital, described the programme as essential. She explained that many of the Chinese doctors stationed at the hospital are not fluent in English, creating gaps in communication.
“Many Chinese doctors here don’t speak English well, which is a big problem in medicine,” she said. “A lot of our supplies are labelled in Chinese, so learning the language wasn’t optional. It was necessary.”
Since its launch in 2020, the programme has held five sessions, targeting healthcare workers and hospital support staff. Although many signed up in the early stages, only about 20 participants have remained consistently committed.
“We started with many participants, but only the serious ones stayed,” said Du Changyong, director of the Chinese medical programme at the hospital.
Changyong explained that the training does not aim for fluency but rather practical communication useful in patient care, laboratory work and daily staff coordination.
Dr Akuol said that even learning basic words has improved her working relationship with Chinese colleagues.
“Now I can greet them properly and say thank you. It makes everything easier,” she said. “When I speak their language, they see I am making an effort and that matters.”
