Chinese doctor brings skills, determination to Eritrea mission

Zhang Shijun, deputy director of the neurosurgery department at Yellow River Sanmenxia Hospital in Henan province, served as the deputy head of the 18th Chinese medical aid team to Eritrea. In an interview with China Daily ahead of China's ninth Doctors' Day, celebrated annually on Aug 19, Zhang shared his experiences from the mission.

Stripped of the advanced equipment found in modern operating rooms and working in relatively basic conditions, Zhang said that what matters most for a medical worker on an overseas mission are solid technical skills and the determination to rise to every challenge.

Gao Jielei contributed to the story.