The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has welcomed the medical outreach by the Chinese Navy Hospital Ship, Ark of Peace (Hull 868), describing the initiative as an important step towards strengthening health cooperation and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and China.
Professor Pate expressed appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Ambassador and other stakeholders for facilitating the hospital ship’s visit, noting that the initiative provides an opportunity to deepen bilateral relations while expanding access to healthcare services for Nigerians.
The Coordinating Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that the health and well-being of Nigerians remain a national priority, emphasising the importance of strengthening healthcare delivery across primary, secondary and tertiary levels, as well as public health interventions.
While promising to brief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR on the development, the Minister, noted that the medical outreach offers opportunities for mutual learning, knowledge exchange and collaboration between Nigerian and Chinese health professionals, particularly in improving service delivery, quality of care and health outcomes. He added that international partnerships of this nature could contribute to building stronger and more responsive health systems.
Professor Pate further stressed the importance of sustained engagement among government institutions and relevant stakeholders to ensure effective coordination and maximise the benefits of the initiative for the Nigerian people.
He expressed the Federal Government’s appreciation to the Chinese Government for the gesture, describing the visit as a demonstration of the value of international solidarity and cooperation in advancing healthcare delivery.
The Coordinating Minister wished the hospital ship and its medical team a successful mission, expressing hope that the engagement would further strengthen the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and China and create opportunities for future collaboration in the health sector.
The details of the proposed medical outreach scheduled to from 10th -17th November 2026 in Lagos was presented by the representative of the Chinese Embassador to Nigeria, Defense Attached Senior Colonel Ouyang Haisheng, who explained that the mission would provide medical services to Nigerians while strengthening collaboration between Chinese and Nigerian healthcare professionals.
According to Haisheng, the Auspicious Ark is a fully equipped floating hospital with a displacement of approximately 16,000 tonnes, eight operating theatres and more than 100 doctors and other medical personnel. The vessel is expected to serve as the main medical platform during the mission, with the capacity to attend to approximately 600 or more patients daily during the main service period, subject to operational arrangements.
The proposed services include medical consultations, physical examinations, laboratory investigations, diagnostic imaging, surgical procedures and cataract-related treatment under the Brightness Initiative. The 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 the ship-based services, the mission plans to deploy mobile medical teams to communities and selected institutions, including schools, orphanages, homes for older persons and disability centres. Temporary medical facilities may also be established in accessible locations, such as stadiums, churches and schools, to extend healthcare services to local populations. Expert teams are also expected to engage with Nigerian hospitals and universities through professional exchanges, health education and cultural activities.
Senior Colonel Ouyang Haisheng, noted that China’s overseas medical missions commenced in 2010 and have provided healthcare services to hundreds of thousands of patients in different countries. He expressed optimism that the proposed visit would further strengthen Nigeria–China health cooperation through improved access to medical services, knowledge sharing and professional collaboration.
Outlining the coordination plan, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Professor Akin Abayomi, who joined the coordination meeting virtually from London while on official assignment, described the government-to-government initiative as a high priority for Lagos, noting that it represents another significant step in the growing cooperation between Nigeria, Lagos State and China.
He disclosed that the state had established a multidisciplinary committee comprising health strategists and specialists from major general hospitals to facilitate the successful implementation of the mission, adding that the state was working with relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Navy, security agencies and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, to ensure appropriate coordination, regulatory compliance and operational readiness.
The Commissioner explained that the seven-day medical outreach would combine onshore medical services at selected general hospitals along the Lagos Marina axis with referrals of selected cases requiring advanced specialist attention to the hospital ship. The arrangement, he noted, would facilitate effective patient triage, ease logistics and maximise the use of available medical expertise.
He further proposed extending the outreach to hard-to-reach riverine communities across Lagos State, leveraging the ship’s waterborne capabilities and available boats to reach underserved populations. He also highlighted the potential for academic and professional exchanges between Nigerian health officials and Chinese medical specialists, including discussions on clinical practices, specialised services and healthcare delivery models.
He assured the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Lagos State’s readiness to work with the Nigerian Navy and other relevant authorities to host and coordinate the diplomatic and humanitarian mission. He also indicated plans to facilitate a courtesy visit involving the Chinese diplomatic mission and the Lagos State Governor, alongside other senior government officials, to formally welcome the visiting delegation.
The Commissioner expressed optimism that the outreach would deliver mutual benefits, strengthen bilateral relations and create opportunities for sustained healthcare cooperation between Nigeria and China. He pledged to brief the Governor on the proposed activities and provide the necessary state-level support to ensure the mission achieves its humanitarian and diplomatic objectives.
Giving update on ethical registration during the meeting, the Registrar/ CEO, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Professor Fatima Kyari, said the council has identified the professional status of the participating doctors, and completed their licenses.
She noted that the regulatory safeguards is to ensure patient safety and Nigerians receive adequate medical specialist care from the humanitarian aspect, adding that temporary registration restricted to indicated place of service and also limited time have been provided.
In his remarks, representative of Chief of Naval Staff, Surgeon Commodore, Momoh Jimoh Salihu, assured adequate provision of security during the exercise, describing the outreach as a welcome development.
Ado Bako
Assistant Director Information and Public Relations
20/10/2026.
