Online Reporter
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MISS Zimbabwe Queen 2022 Charlotte Muziri has praised the growing impact of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in this country.
She says the China-Zimbabwe Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre at Parirenyatwa is transforming the lives of elderly patients by providing free and accessible healthcare.
Muziri, who works as an assistant at the centre, said she plays a vital role in bridging the communication gap between patients and Chinese doctors, as the majority of those seeking treatment are elderly people who struggle to explain their symptoms.
“I help mostly with the administration between the patients and the doctors, so that it’s seamless service provision for our local community,” she said.
She said nearly all the patients she attends to are senior citizens who require assistance communicating with medical personnel.
“Most of our patients are elderly people and many of them are unable to communicate what they are feeling to the doctors.
“That’s where I come in by helping with communication so they receive the care they need,” she said.Muziri said the growing popularity of the facility has largely been driven by patient referrals with many people recommending the centre after experiencing positive treatment outcomes.
“Most of our patients come through word of mouth. When someone receives treatment and gets better, they go back to their families, friends and churches and encourage others to come. The service has been very helpful because it is free and easily accessible,” she said. She said the centre welcomes everyone seeking treatment and refers patients to the main hospital whenever specialised medical attention is required.
Muziri noted that acupuncture is used to treat a range of conditions although not every illness is suitable for the therapy.
“We commonly assist patients with back pain, leg pain, chest pain and migraines.
“We also support people living with high blood pressure by teaching them how to regulate it through healthy eating and proper lifestyle management,” she said.
She said her passion for Traditional Chinese Medicine was inspired by her father, who has been receiving acupuncture treatment at the facility. “My father is a patient here and that’s how I was introduced to Traditional Chinese Medicine. From my first visit I fell in love with the work being done because I saw people genuinely getting help.
“The fact that the service is free is what motivated me to become part of the team,” she said.
The cultural exchange coincided with the arrival of 10 additional Chinese doctors deployed to Zimbabwe under the China Medical Team programme, further strengthening bilateral cooperation in healthcare.
Jointly managed by the China Medical Team to Zimbabwe and the Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe, the China-Zimbabwe Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre is the country’s first official TCM centre and the largest facility of its kind in Southern Africa.
The developments were highlighted during a cultural exchange and publicity event hosted by the Confucius Institute in partnership with the China Medical Team.
The programme brought together high school principals and coordinators from Chinese language teaching centres across Zimbabwe for guided tours of the facility, lectures on Traditional Chinese Medicine, discussions on China-Africa cultural cooperation and demonstrations of TCM therapies, including free acupuncture sessions.
The centre has continued to expand its reach beyond Harare as demand for its services grows.
Dr Peng Jie, of the China Medical Team, said more than 18,000 Zimbabwean patients have received treatment at the facility, while over 300 local health practitioners have been trained through face-to-face and online programmes.
