Traditional Chinese Medicine finds foothold in Rwanda

When An Lingfei, a senior doctor from the Inner Mongolia medical team in Rwanda, arrived in the capital city of Kigali, he set up a center in the Masaka District Hospital. He began carrying out TCM treatment last December. Since then, the China-Rwanda Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Diagnosis and Treatment Center has increased in popularity.

According to An, the center now receives an average of more than 30 people daily, with the majority of patients suffering from lower back pain or degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee and ankle joints. There have been cases of other chronic musculoskeletal diseases as well.

Rwanda is known as the land of a thousand hills. Locals often have to walk on mountain roads year-round, which can lead to joint and muscle stress.

"TCM has great advantages in treating these diseases, and the effect is very good," An said.

The center now provides acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, physical therapy and massage-related TCM therapy, allowing local people to experience Eastern medicine, An added.