Written By Lisa Murimi
Despite harsh winter weather, Cape Town residents have been lining up for free medical care aboard China’s Peace Ark, a hospital ship docked in the city’s harbor.Â
The visit comes as South Africa grapples with a severe financial crisis, leaving public healthcare services underfunded and inaccessible for many.
Since the Peace Ark’s arrival, over 2,000 South Africans have received treatments ranging from cataract surgeries to cupping therapy.
The ship, equipped with operating theaters, intensive care beds, and even a rescue helicopter, can accommodate up to 700 patients daily.
This initiative is part of a joint exercise between the South African and Chinese armies, reflecting the strong political partnership between the two nations.
The ship’s popularity highlights the struggles within South Africa’s healthcare system, which has been further strained by a controversial new universal healthcare scheme.
Health experts, including Dr. Shuaib Manjra, chairperson of the Health Justice Initiative, see the overwhelming response to the Peace Ark as evidence of the public health system’s failure to meet the needs of its citizens.
