Reported by Xinhua News Agency | Sudan's international student Sara: China's practice provides important reference for the global public health system
2025-09-10
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on February 4, 1959, China and Sudan have maintained traditional friendly relations under the guidance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and actively and steadily promoted cooperation in various fields, achieving a series of fruitful results. In September 2015, the relationship between the two countries was upgraded to a strategic partnership, further promoting extensive exchanges and cooperation in political, economic, trade, technological, and cultural fields between the two countries. Against the backdrop of friendly cooperation, the education cooperation between China and the Soviet Union continues to deepen. In November 2009, the Confucius Institute at Khartoum University in Sudan was officially established, becoming an important platform for educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries. In addition, China provides a certain number of scholarships to Sudanese students every year to support their study abroad in China. Sara Sulieman from Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, is one of them. With the dream of improving the public health system in her hometown, she traveled thousands of miles from Northeast Africa to China, hoping to contribute to the healthcare industry in her hometown after completing her studies and returning home. Sara told a reporter from Xinhua News Agency that her study abroad experience in China has profoundly changed her way of thinking and enabled her to achieve all-round growth and rejuvenation. Sara, a Sudanese international student studying in China, traveled thousands of miles from Khartoum to Guangzhou to pursue her medical dreams. In 2017, Sara graduated from Khartoum University, the oldest institution of higher education in Sudan and once ranked first in Africa, with a degree in pharmacy. After graduation, she worked as a pharmacist in both community and military hospitals, and as a pharmacy manager and inventory manager in public welfare organizations. In 2018, she joined the Sudan National Medical Supplies Fund to participate in systematic training, mainly engaged in drug procurement, storage, and distribution related work. In 2021, Sarah chose to pursue a Master's degree in Public Health at Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China. Affected by the global pandemic, she initially conducted her studies online until the end of 2022 when she went to China to complete her remaining studies. Sara said, "When I started my master's study, the world was still in the midst of an epidemic. China's public health policies, modern medical services and the ability to mobilize the whole people in the process of responding to COVID-19 were widely concerned by the international community, providing a model of great reference value for the world." Referring to her feelings of studying in China, Sara said, "China's successful anti epidemic experience made me think, why not have a deeper understanding of China's public health system?" She said that studying in China gave her the opportunity to directly understand China's public health system from the policy and practice levels, so that she not only has a single Western perspective knowledge system. Therefore, after obtaining a master's degree from Southern Medical University in 2022, she chose to continue pursuing a doctoral degree at the university. This cross-cultural learning experience not only deepened her professional knowledge, but also profoundly influenced her teaching practice. Since July 2018, Sarah has been serving as a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Khartoum University, teaching public health courses in the classroom. Comparing higher education in Sudan and China, she believes that the teaching methods of the two countries are generally similar. But I met a professor named Xu Dong in China, and his teaching style has benefited me greatly. His classroom is not one-way teaching, but full of interactivity - every student actively participates and shares their own country's medical and health system experience and personal thoughts. We learn from each other, and the classroom atmosphere is extremely active. This model has deeply influenced me, and now when I am teaching in Sudan, I also strive to learn from his methods, focusing on stimulating students' vitality and participation. "She added," After coming to China, my teaching work at Khartoum University has shifted to online teaching, and I have placed more emphasis on integrating real cases and personal experiences into the curriculum, especially transforming what I have seen and learned in China into teaching content. This emphasizes the relevance of reality and is based on current problems. The teaching philosophy was inspired by that professor In addition to her studies, Sarah often travels to gain a deeper understanding of China. She has visited multiple cities including Dongguan, Shenzhen, Shaoguan, and Sanya. The first time I went to Dongguan was in spring, and I saw a vast sea of colorful sunflowers. I also took a stroll along the ecological corridor, and the scenery on the riverbank was unforgettable, "she recalled. Shenzhen left a more modern impression on her. "This city is somewhat similar to Guangzhou, but it is more young and has a sense of science and technology. There are many young people gathered here, and the whole city is filled with an atmosphere of struggle and innovation." During her stay in Shenzhen, Sarah visited representative enterprises in China's Internet and medical fields. She stated that these visits allowed her to intuitively feel the profound impact of technology on the development of China's healthcare system, and also made her believe that this innovation is providing important guidance for the future of global health. This positive impact is far more than just for China, it will ultimately benefit the world, "she emphasized. Sara visited Dongguan. Among all the cities she visited, Shaoguan left the deepest impression on Sara. In October 2024, she participated in a three-day "Perceive China · Shaoguan 'Hundred, Thousand, Thousand Project'" study tour, and went deep into northern Guangdong with 62 international students from 33 countries to experience local culture and witness the practical achievements of rural revitalization in China. Sara believes that her trip to Shaoguan has given her a profound understanding of how locals rely on existing resources to promote the development of their hometown. They have expanded the orchid trade overseas with a pragmatic and innovative spirit, inherited and innovated tea culture, and developed tourism while protecting ancient architecture... These measures are driving the vigorous development of Shaoguan. "She said," The development speed of rural China is amazing. We should learn from China's experience in rural revitalization, that is, promoting modernization while protecting traditional culture. "From initial concerns about cultural differences to gradually integrating into China's social and academic environment, Sarah has shown an open and positive attitude. She believes that "the cultural differences between the two countries have prompted us to communicate and learn from each other, and I have maintained a broad mind due to the new experience of studying abroad." Whether in daily life or academic research, she has received strong support and assistance from her mentors and classmates. I truly love this place now. Even if I return to my homeland in the future, I will definitely miss China deeply, because the lifestyle formed here has become a very important part of my life. From China's experience to global southern practice: exploring the path of cooperation and development in multiple fields. From a Bachelor of Pharmacy to a PhD in Public Health, Sarah has been exploring the field of public health management for nearly five years. Currently, Sarah's research focuses on global health and public health systems, with a particular emphasis on women's and children's health policies and analysis, while also delving into the implementation of science - a discipline dedicated to researching how to effectively implement health services. When it comes to the original intention of deeply cultivating this field, she said that her past experience has made her no longer satisfied with only working in clinical practice, but more eager to promote systematic changes in the healthcare system from the perspectives of policy formulation and institutional management. In terms of scientific research, Sarah's team has made substantial progress in the interdisciplinary field of "artificial intelligence+medicine" in recent years. "Under the leadership of the tutor, our team has carried out a practical project of combining artificial intelligence and telemedicine, and developed a set of intelligent management system for tuberculosis patients - monitoring the patient's medication situation through the smart kit. Every time the kit is opened, the system will automatically send medication tips to the doctor to achieve remote supervision of the medication process." She said that the system is also equipped with mobile applications, where patients can make appointments, register, consult and obtain health knowledge, and doctors can timely browse patient information and provide professional guidance. At present, the project has been successfully implemented in China. In the future, it is planned to extend to Ghana, Ethiopia and other African countries to improve local tuberculosis prevention and control capacity. Despite studying in China for many years, Sarah has always closely monitored the domestic situation in Sudan. Sara stated that since the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan in April 2023, the country's healthcare system, which had already been overwhelmed by long-term political turmoil, has been further exacerbated by the conflict. She further analyzed that the structural problem of Sudan's healthcare system lies in excessive reliance on secondary and tertiary medical services, severe lack of primary healthcare, and the majority of the population relying on self funded medical treatment, lacking social or commercial insurance protection. One person falling ill may lead to the whole family falling into poverty. This is a serious issue that must be prioritized and systemic reforms promoted in Sudan's post-war reconstruction, "she emphasized. It is based on her profound understanding of the healthcare system in our country that Sarah paid special attention to China's practice in the national healthcare security system during her studies in China. She believes that China's medical insurance system has been continuously improving, with measures such as strengthening community health services and improving grassroots medical networks, and has achieved significant results in expanding medical insurance coverage. Sara emphasized that developing countries such as Sudan can fully learn from China's practical path, re evaluate or deepen their own community health worker programs, and gradually build a more equitable and resilient healthcare system. Sudan has previously implemented similar plans, but still faces many challenges in the implementation process, "she said." The value of China's experience lies not only in its strong operability, but also in providing a practical and gradual development path. "Sara visited grassroots medical and health institutions in rural areas of Henan Province, and China is one of Sudan's oldest partners in the field of medical and health cooperation. According to the overall deployment of China's diplomatic and health aid, Shaanxi Province has continuously dispatched 37 batches of medical teams to Sudan since April 1971. Over the years, millions of Sudanese people have benefited from China's medical assistance in various fields such as maternal and child health, orthopedics, and urology. In addition, Sarah stated that the current cooperation between China and the Soviet Union has far exceeded the field of healthcare, covering a wide range of industries such as oil, mineral resources, infrastructure construction, agriculture, and textiles, demonstrating a comprehensive and diverse cooperation landscape. She believes that "this marks the gradual establishment of an equal, open, and cooperative global partnership between the two countries, and also reflects the deep political mutual trust and long-term strategic layout of both sides." She further emphasizes that this partnership significantly enhances the sustainability and resilience of cooperation between the two countries. It can be seen that China has always adhered to the concept of win-win cooperation, providing solid support to developing countries around the world through various means such as medical support and humanitarian aid, and continuing to play an important role in South South cooperation. "Speaking of her plans after graduation, Sarah firmly stated that she will return to Sudan to devote herself to the reconstruction and development of her hometown. Sudan, which has experienced war and turmoil, urgently needs to be rebuilt. I hope to devote myself wholeheartedly to this cause, apply the knowledge and experience learned in China, and serve the motherland and the people. She plans to enter the public health sector of Sudan in the future, dedicated to the construction and reform of the public health system, especially focusing on the development of the primary healthcare system. From the bank of the Nile to the bank of the the Pearl River, Sarah's schooling time in China has become a ray of dawn of the friendship between China and the Soviet Union. Her journey is not only a crossing of mountains and rivers geographically, but also a journey of knowledge and belief. This experience completely changed me, "Sarah said." It taught me independence in the vibrant culture of China and allowed me to witness the opportunities hidden in technology, healthcare, and development in China. "Now, she is not only a beneficiary of education cooperation between China and the Soviet Union, but also a public health guardian on the road to Sudan's reconstruction - using the wisdom gained in China to build
Edit:Yi Yi Responsible editor:Li Nian
Source:Outlook New Era
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