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SOUTHERN MESSENGERS 22

Arifin Islam (Bangladesh):

My healing medical path in Yunnan

阿里芬·伊斯拉姆（孟加拉国）：医路愈心在云南

By Arifin Islam □ 阿里芬·伊斯拉姆 / 文
journey would transform my life—not cation, research, and capacity building. patients. I am also organizing endoscopic
just academically, but in how I perceive Scholarships for students like me, joint training sessions for Bangladeshi gastro-
medicine, international cooperation, and public health research, and hospital enterologists to advance their procedural
the power of people-to-people bonds. My knowledge exchanges are not mere head- skills.
internship at the First Affiliated Hospital of lines—they are transformative efforts These collaborations transcend medi-
Kunming Medical University has been one saving lives. cine—they are bridges of trust, uniting us
of the most impactful experiences in my I’ve seen Chinese medical teams visit against shared health threats.
medical training. Bangladesh for rural healthcare support Looking ahead, I am committed to
Here, I immersed myself in a world- and training programs. Similarly, Bang- leveraging my experience in China to
class environment where modern medical ladeshi doctors increasingly collaborate serve my country and advance the BRI’s
technology and advanced clinical practices with Chinese counterparts on shared health high-quality development. My vision is
converge with compassionate patient care. challenges like liver disorders, H. pylori in- clear: First, strengthen China-Bangla-
In the gastroenterology department, I wit- fections, and inflammatory bowel disease. desh telemedicine networks, particularly
nessed interdisciplinary teams combining Notably, two months ago, my hospital es- in gastroenterology, where cross-border
endoscopy, imaging, and clinical diagnosis tablished a joint collaboration with Dhaka diagnostics can save lives. Second, in-
to deliver precise treatments. My PhD Medical College Hospital—Bangladesh’s itiate collaborative research on South
supervisor, Professor Dr. Yang Hongju, premier government hospital. This partner- Asia’s prevalent gastrointestinal diseases,
guides me through every aspect of disease ship launched bilateral research projects, harnessing Chinese expertise to improve
diagnosis and treatment in this field. I re- a patient referral system, and telemedicine treatments. Finally, train young Bangla-
call assisting in a complex case of upper consultations. deshi doctors with advanced techniques
gastrointestinal bleeding—the expertise, Since then, my hospital has sent invi- while fostering medical diplomacy be-
Ni Hao! Warm greetings to you all. My precision, and collaboration I observed left tation letters to Bangladeshi patients, fa- tween our nations.
name is Arifin Islam, from Bangladesh—a an indelible mark, reminding me that learn- cilitating medical visas for treatment here. As students, doctors, and citizens of a
country rich in culture, resilience, and as- ing never stops and medicine knows no Over 20 patients have received first-class shared future, we hold the power to con-
pirations. I am a medical doctorate student borders. care at our hospital, building its reputation nect communities, advance healthcare, and
specializing in gastroenterology, pursuing What deepened this journey’s meaning in Bangladesh. Many now submit medical ensure quality medical access for all—
my dreams in China’s beautiful Yunnan is the spirit of international cooperation reports to our International Medical Depart- regardless of nationality.
Province. under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). ment, receiving prompt expert feedback. Let us continue this healing journey
From the moment I began studying at Through the BRI, Bangladesh and China As a Bangladeshi PhD student here, I take together—under the Belt and Road, and
Kunming Medical University, I knew this have forged strong ties in medical edu- pride in assisting doctors with Bangladeshi beyond.

Shreeya Bhattarai (Nepal):

Bonds of belonging at KMU

什里娅·巴塔莱（尼泊尔）：此心安处是吾乡

By Shreeya Bhattarai □ 什里娅·巴塔莱 / 文

Namaste! My name is Shreeya Bhat- Festival, IES gave special gift packages
tarai, and I come from the beautiful country with snacks like walnuts, almonds, and
of Nepal. It is my honor to speak today green peas to all international students. We
during the “Warm from South Friends Meet were deeply touched by this gesture of love
in Yunnan” activity. I feel very happy and and care.
proud to represent my country and share Living on campus, I have made friends
my experience as an international student from China and other countries. We cele-
at Kunming Medical University (KMU). brate each other’s festivals, teach each oth-
When I first came to Kunming Medical er phrases in our mother tongues, and share
University, I was filled with excitement stories about our homelands. We even make
but also a bit nervous. Everything was new mo:mo (Nepali dumplings) together. These
here, the language, food and environment. moments have created cherished memories
But soon, it all started to feel at home. As and deep friendships.
a medical student, the pressure was al- The International Education School of
ready high, and I began to worry whether studying Histology, I found that some an- the correct answers and added: “Don’t feel KMU has played a significant role in mak-
I would be able to keep up. I clearly swers were incorrect on our online home- afraid or embarrassed to ask questions. ing us feel welcomed. They organize cul-
remember when our Dean from the In- work submission app, Chaoxing. I wanted We teachers are always here to help you.” tural exchanges, sports events, and summer
ternational Education School (IES) said, to report this to the teacher but wasn’t sure Since then, I have always felt comfortable camps, which help us share our cultures
“You are not just students, you are part of if she would reply. Gathering my courage, approaching her. This experience reminded and understand China better.
our KMU family.” That sentence gave me a I messaged our teacher Ms. Guo Kun late me that true education goes beyond text- As a student from Nepal, I feel proud to
sense of belonging. in the evening, asking if she could help. To books; it's about trust, care, and connection. share the message of peace and friendship.
Our interactions go beyond the class- my surprise, she responded within minutes. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, our Our national flag—unique with its sun and
room. Teachers also provide us with their Not only did she thank me for pointing it Chinese teacher explained the story behind moon symbols—means “Nepal will endure
contact information so we can reach out to out, but she also checked the answers im- moon cakes and even gave us some to try. as long as the sun and moon.” Similarly, I
them if we have any difficulties. mediately and confirmed the mistake in the The taste of rose-filled moon cakes still believe our friendship with China, especial-
Once during the second semester, while system. She even took the time to explain makes my mouth water. During the Spring ly in Yunnan, will last forever.