China’s Navy Hospital Ship to Offer Free Medical Services in Lagos as FG Backs Health Mission
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria-China health cooperation ahead of a proposed seven-day medical outreach by the Chinese Navy Hospital Ship, Ark of Peace (Hull 868), scheduled to take place in Lagos from November 10 to 17, 2026.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an opportunity to expand access to healthcare services, promote professional exchanges and deepen relations between both countries.
Pate commended the Chinese government, its diplomatic representatives and other stakeholders for facilitating the proposed humanitarian mission.
He said the initiative aligned with the Federal Government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery at all levels and ensuring that the health and well-being of Nigerians remained a national priority.
The minister added that the engagement would create opportunities for Nigerian and Chinese health professionals to exchange knowledge, improve clinical practices and explore approaches to strengthening healthcare systems.
He also pledged to brief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the development, stressing that international partnerships remained important to improving service delivery, quality of care and health outcomes.
Pate called for sustained collaboration among government institutions and other stakeholders to ensure effective coordination and maximise the benefits of the exercise.
The details of the proposed mission were presented during a coordination meeting by the Chinese Ambassador’s representative in Nigeria, Defence Attaché Senior Colonel Ouyang Haisheng.
Haisheng said the visit would combine medical services with professional collaboration and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
He explained that the Ark of Peace was a specialised floating hospital equipped with eight operating theatres and supported by more than 100 doctors and other medical personnel.
The vessel, with a displacement of approximately 16,000 tonnes, is expected to provide the main medical platform for the mission and attend to about 600 or more patients daily during the principal service period, depending on operational arrangements.
The proposed medical services include consultations, physical examinations, laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging, surgical procedures and cataract-related treatment under the Brightness Initiative.
The medical team is also expected to demonstrate traditional Chinese medical practices, including acupuncture, moxibustion and scraping therapy, while exploring opportunities for joint clinical activities with Nigerian practitioners.
As part of efforts to reach more people, 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 in locations such as stadiums, churches and schools to extend services to residents who may have difficulty accessing conventional healthcare facilities.
Haisheng further disclosed that China began its overseas medical missions in 2010 and had since provided healthcare services to hundreds of thousands of patients in various countries.
He expressed confidence that the Lagos mission would improve access to medical care while promoting knowledge transfer and strengthening professional relationships between Nigerian and Chinese healthcare workers.
Lagos Sets Up Committee to Coordinate Medical Outreach
The Lagos State Government has described the planned medical outreach as a major health cooperation initiative and established a multidisciplinary committee to coordinate its implementation.
The state Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, disclosed this during the coordination meeting, which he attended virtually from London while on official assignment.
Abayomi said the committee comprised health strategists and specialists from major general hospitals and would work with relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful execution of the programme.
He identified the Nigerian Navy, security agencies and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria among the institutions involved in preparations for the mission.
According to him, the seven-day programme would combine onshore medical services at selected general hospitals along the Lagos Marina axis with referrals of appropriate cases requiring advanced specialist attention to the hospital ship.
He said the arrangement would support patient triage, improve logistics and ensure the effective use of available medical personnel and facilities.
The commissioner also proposed extending the outreach to hard-to-reach riverine communities across Lagos State, using the vessel’s waterborne capabilities and available boats to reach underserved populations.
He noted that the mission would provide opportunities for professional and academic exchanges between Nigerian health officials and Chinese specialists, particularly in specialised medical services, clinical practices and healthcare delivery models.
Abayomi assured the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare that Lagos State would collaborate with the Nigerian Navy and other relevant authorities to facilitate the mission.
He added that arrangements were being considered for a courtesy visit by the Chinese diplomatic delegation to the Lagos State Governor and other senior government officials.
The commissioner expressed optimism that the initiative would strengthen Nigeria-China relations and establish a foundation for sustained cooperation in healthcare delivery.
MDCN Completes Registration of Chinese Medical Team
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Professor Fatima Kyari, disclosed that the council had verified the professional status of the doctors participating in the proposed mission and completed their licensing.
Kyari said the regulatory measures were intended to safeguard patients and ensure that Nigerians received appropriate specialist care during the humanitarian exercise.
She explained that temporary registrations had been issued, restricting the participating medical professionals to designated service locations and a specified period.
The representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Surgeon Commodore Momoh Jimoh Salihu, also assured stakeholders that adequate security arrangements would be provided throughout the exercise.
He welcomed the initiative, describing it as a positive development for healthcare delivery and international cooperation.
The proposed medical outreach is expected to bring together Nigerian and Chinese health professionals to provide medical services, exchange expertise and explore opportunities for stronger collaboration between the two countries’ healthcare systems.
