The photo shows the entrance to the Regional Center for Mediterranean Traditional Chinese Medicine (CRMMTC), in Paola, Malta, on May 7, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

Since 1993, the Chinese government has sent 19 medical teams to Malta, treating nearly 250,000 patients.

Valletta, November 17, 2019 (Xinhua) – Acupuncture was a wonderful experience for Sophie Pero, an eight-year-old girl who suffers from severe digestive problems.

“I felt a little pain during the treatment, but then it went away and I felt better,” she told Xinhua after her second treatment this week at the Mediterranean Regional Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Malta.

“I can eat more after acupuncture,” she said, excitedly talking about the joy of eating toast, porridge and rice without feeling nauseous.

Sophie and her family moved from London to Malta in May 2021. That’s when Sophie started showing symptoms such as frequent diarrhoea, stomach pain, vomiting and fever. These problems left her physically weak, which made her mother, Anita Tombai, very worried.

Anita said none of Sophie’s treatments at hospital had had any lasting effects so far, and she was reluctant to let her daughter continue antibiotics.

So, when she found some information about CRMMTC on social media a few weeks ago, the 42-year-old mother decided to turn to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a “last resort.”

The fact that acupuncture had no side effects was crucial for Anita.

“My daughter felt so much better after her first acupuncture treatment,” she said. “I am very happy and grateful for the results,” Anita said emotionally.

Feng Hua, head of the Chinese medical team in Malta and Sophie’s treating doctor, said Sophie is one of the youngest patients treated at CRMMTC.

Feng described her as brave and cooperative. Fortunately, Sophie’s digestive symptoms quickly subsided after the first treatment, leaving only mild abdominal pain. In the second treatment, her skin improved significantly, indicating a steady recovery, Feng said.

Now Sophie is keen to share her experiences with others.

“I want my best friend to try acupuncture too,” Sophie said, adding that her friend, who is a year younger than her, has a habit of biting her nails and often complains of stomach pain.

When she saw her daughter’s condition steadily improving, Anita was relieved, but regretted not bringing Sophie to CRMMTC sooner. She said she was willing to continue acupuncture treatments for Sophie to prevent a recurrence of her digestive problems.

A patient receives acupuncture treatment at the Regional Mediterranean Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine (CRMMTC) in Paola, Malta, on April 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

Since 1993, the Chinese government has sent 19 medical teams to Malta, treating nearly 250,000 patients. In 1994, China and Malta signed a cooperation agreement in the field of traditional Chinese medicine and established the CRMMTC.

Over the past 30 years, the use of traditional Chinese medicine has increased significantly in Malta, Feng said. She added that the center also welcomes patients from all over Europe and offers professional training in traditional Chinese medicine.