Shi Zhendong and Janet Jagan, then-first lady of Guyana, pose for a photo. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

As early as 31 years ago, Shi Zhendong, an acupuncture expert at Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, led the first medical aid team from China to Guyana.

Shi still feels proud and grateful for his two years in the country.

In 1992, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and China inked an agreement, stating that China will dispatch medical aid teams to Guyana. One year later, Jiangsu province organized such a medical team, including Shi, the only member from Nantong.

Shi recalled that due to the country's humid weather, there are many patients with arthritis that can be treated with acupuncture.

His acupuncture clinic attracted the attention of the wife of the then-president of Guyana, who was relieved of the pain caused by arthritis after two courses of treatment by Shi.

Following this incident, the Nantong acupuncturist became famous in the area, with a constant stream of patients seeking his consultation every day and even drawing the attention of local doctors, who came to learn his techniques.

Over the two years of medical aid efforts, medical workers from Jiangsu have treated over 30,000 local patients and performed more than 1,700 operations, generating a positive response from people in Guyana.

Cheddi Jagan, then-president of Guyana, said in an interview that the Chinese medical aid team has solved many difficult medical problems for locals and is worthy of respect.