A Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship completed its latest medical mission after its medical crew treated thousands of officers and soldiers stationed on 13 Xisha and Nansha islands and reefs in the South China Sea. The hospital ship named Youhao, or Friendship in English, recently returned to Zhanjiang Port after completing an 18-day voyage covering 4,000 nautical miles.

The 40-strong medical team, comprising experts from the First Naval Hospital of the Southern Theater Command, provided medical services to some 5,000 people and performed over 60 surgeries during the mission. The medical team overcame the discomfort of seasickness and heat, working all day to provide health checks and psychological consultations to military personnel in need. The doctors used health information gathered from the health checks to analyze the common diseases found among military personnel stationed on the islands and reefs to provide better health services.