Chinese doctor honored for sacrifice in Tanzania

Zhang Junqiao, a doctor who recently sacrificed his life to save a woman in Tanzania, was honored as a Hero of Justice and Courage in Weifang, Shandong province, on Tuesday by the political and legal affairs commission of the CPC Weifang Municipal Committee and the Weifang Foundation for Justice and Courage.

Zhang, 38, was a doctor at the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University.

He arrived in Tanzania in January last year, serving as leader of the 27th Chinese medical team on a two-year medical aid mission at the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

Zhang saw a Tanzanian woman drowning in the waters off Dar es Salaam on June 15. Without hesitation, he leaped into the sea to rescue her. Struggling against the waves, he held the victim above water and gave her his life jacket, ultimately managing to push her to safety.

However, Zhang, exhausted from the effort, had himself drowned. Despite emergency medical treatment, he passed away.

Zhang was known for setting up a stall in a square to teach first aid, earning him the nickname of "stall doctor". He also won a series of honors, including Weifang Person Touching People's Hearts, Weifang Good Person, and Shandong Good Person.

In his last post on WeChat, Zhang wrote that serving the people has no borders. "As a Chinese doctor working abroad, I take great pride in my country and my profession. Our Tanzanian colleagues can feel the strength of China and Chinese doctors," he wrote, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.

On the morning of June 20 (local time), the Tanzanian hospital where Zhang aided held a memorial service for the doctor, with over 300 attendees comprised of hospital staff, Tanzanian citizens, and Chinese expatriates.

Zhang's bravery embodied the values of the Chinese medical team: fearlessness in the face of hardship, selfless dedication, healing the wounded, and boundless compassion, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Tuesday.