Ghana chief receives acupuncture for shoulder injury in Changsha

Shadrach Yirenkyi Appiah, a traditional chief from Ghana's Ashanti Region, received acupuncture treatment on Saturday at Changsha Taihe Hospital in Changsha, Hunan province, China, bringing to an end a shoulder injury that had been troubling him for 18 months.

Appiah had been in Changsha for an investment conference at the invitation of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Promotion Council in Hunan. After concluding his official engagements, he scheduled an appointment at the hospital for a general physical examination and to receive a consultation on his shoulder.

An MRI scan confirmed the underlying problem, and doctors recommended acupuncture. Following the treatment, Appiah reported significantly improved mobility in his shoulder. "This was my first experience with a traditional Chinese medicine treatment," he said. "I'm glad to have had the chance to try it today, and it proved quite effective."

Appiah also praised the hospital's efficiency. "The hospital is very large and well-equipped with modern technology. The services were top-notch, very fast, and efficient," he said, adding that the Chinese staff were "caring and attentive".

His treating physician was Wang Wenjun, a professor specializing in spine surgery. The doctor highlighted the advantages of Chinese healthcare. "Only a small portion of patients with neck, shoulder, back, and leg pain require surgery," said Wang, who is also the vice-president of the hospital. "The rest can be treated with 'natural treatments', an area where traditional Chinese medicine has a clear advantage."

According to Sun Yuehui, director of Taihe's international medical department, the hospital has received patients from 30 countries and regions over the past eight months, including several from Africa for complex orthopedic surgeries. It has also hosted medical professionals from Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi for training exchanges under Belt and Road medical cooperation programs.

Sun argued that Chinese hospitals offer strong cost-effectiveness compared with private facilities abroad. He sees Hunan as a natural hub for cross-border medical services, citing its top-tier hospitals, medical device and pharmaceutical export base, and China-Africa platform. He also floated the idea of combining treatment with wellness tourism, noting destinations like Zhangjiajie.

"Patients could come for treatment first and then go on a wellness tour," Sun suggested.