MEDICAL MISSION – OCT 2024

In the spirit of promotion of understanding, fostering people-to-people ties and friendly collaboration between the peoples of Canada and China, Can4Culture launched a program to provide health care to areas of need in China. The program began in 2019 with a pause during the covid pandemic.

In October 2024, Can4Culture organized a team of Canadian medical professionals to go to Beijing, Shanxi and Hubei for two weeks.

Free medical care was delivered to the local communities in remote Shanxi. Visits to various levels of health care facilities were made. Fruitful dialogues were engaged. We had in-depth discussions, presentations of topics , experience sharing on patient management , with local medical professional!

The occasion to commemorate the 85 th anniversary of the passing of Dr Norman Bethune brought us on site to some of the locations in Shanxi and Hubei where Dr Bethune worked! This gave us a first-hand understanding of the barren and harsh conditions he worked in during the era of Japanese invasion to China! We came to appreciate the well-deserved accolades bestowed on him for his unselfishness in helping the then Chinese people in need! As Canadians, we stand to gain the recognition on his Canadian identity. At the Commemorative conference in Beijing, organised by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC), our Canadian Counsellor of Public Diplomacy at the Canadian Embassy spoke on this occasion. It was an honour that Can4Culture Chair was invited to speak also alongside with other distinguished speakers.

It has been a most fulfilling and fruitful visit, enabling us to cover a lot of grounds in a short period of time and enhancing people-to-people ties for Canada!

Can4Culture aspires to strengthen global understanding through the shared experience of culture, of which health care is a vital thread weaving into the lives of us all. We will continue to bring people together, transcend differences, and celebrate connections.