JIMMA, Ethiopia, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- In a typical rainy morning on the outskirts of Ethiopia's western Jimma town, villagers have gathered to conduct a routine tomb cleaning service, an activity that lasted for more than 44 years.
The largely forest-covered "China Tomb village," as the locals delightfully call it, hosts a tomb that belongs to the late Mei Gengnian, a Chinese doctor who led the first Chinese medical team to the East African country back in 1974.
SELFLESS CONTRIBUTION ENGRAVED
Woldie Idris, who was in his late 30s during the time of Mei's active voluntary healthcare service based at the Jimma hospital, recalls the huge turnout for a funeral following the unfortunate death of the much-loved Chinese doctor, who passed away from his injuries after a car accident while he was on conducting his regular free healthcare service.
"The doctor's death was a devastating moment to the whole population of Jimma and its surroundings," Indris told Xinhua , adding "thousands of people from all walks of lives, including children and old people, were in deep grief while attending the funeral service that was held as per the Ethiopian and Chinese traditions."
Courtesy to Mei's selfless deed, which is still highly regarded among locals, villagers still conduct a routine tomb cleaning service in honor of his altruistic contributions, with the old generation passing the late doctor's legacy to the younger generation in a cycle of tribute.
Zewdie Haile, a notable member of the hilly China Tomb village, is one of the second-generation volunteer protectors of Mei's tomb.
Haile, who was about 3 years old during Mei's passing, inherited her voluntary tomb cleaning and guarding endeavor from her late father, who had been a respected traditional leader in the forested town.
"My father's admiration for Dr. Mai was boundless... he even offered a portion of his farmland to the construction of this tomb without any thought," Haile told Xinhua on Wednesday, as she recalled numerous living stories regarding the "selfless" Chinese doctor that she heard growing up from her late father.
"My father has been regularly guarding and cleaning the tomb and its surroundings for more than 30 years until his eventual death some 10 years ago," she added.
"Following my father's death, I took over the responsibility and have been cleaning this tomb as well as planting flowers for more than a decade."
"Now that I am old and unable to effectively protect the area, my children and younger brothers are taking the great responsibility so as to guard and clean the tomb for the years to come," Haile added.
Over 45 years later, Mei is still fondly remembered locally, not only for his selfless service, but for his legacy that has kept bringing Chinese goodwill to the East African country.
Sissay Haile, 26, is now taking over the responsibility from his older sister as she is unable to effectively conduct what she described as "the great responsibility" in the same way that she has done for over a decade.
Haile, who is a college student in a nearby public higher education institution, also stressed that the huge responsibility "is a clear manifestation of the deceased doctor's contribution to the local community."
"As we Ethiopians often say -- Good deeds will surely pay off," Haile told Xinhua on Wednesday, adding that "even some 44 years after Dr. Mai's passing, we still remember him not only for his selfless deeds, but also for his legacy that has kept bringing Chinese goodwill to our community."
"Chinese medical professionals, diplomats from the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, as well as ordinary Chinese citizens often visit our village to provide free medical service as well as various other supports to our community," he added.
VARIOUS TYPES OF SUPPORT APPRECIATED
Amid China's continued public health assistance, mainly through dispatching healthcare experts to Ethiopia, the Ethiopians also often speak highly of the Chinese medical team members for their healthcare services and medical appliance assistance to the Ethiopian people.
As part of China's continued support to Ethiopians in the public health sector, the Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital, also known as the Ethio-China Friendship Hospital, located in Akaki neighborhood on the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, presently hosts the 21st batch of the Chinese medical team, constituting 16 medical professionals who have specialized in various fields.
Yohannes Chala, Head of Addis Ababa Health Bureau, told Xinhua recently that "the lifesaving contribution of China's medical assistance to Ethiopia, which lasts for more than four decades, is a successful manifestation of the growing Ethiopia-China friendship."
"The Ethiopian government appreciates the efforts extended by the government of China through its mission in Ethiopia to improve healthcare delivery across the country," Chala said.
The Chinese government's assistance in the public health sector has "played paramount importance to the healthcare system to gear up to date with regard to knowledge and other required inputs," he said.
Chala also urged the Chinese government as well as the current and upcoming Chinese medical professionals in the East African country to help spread the major techniques of traditional Chinese medical treatments in various other hospitals and healthcare institutions in the capital and beyond.
