来自浙北安吉的商剑荣获马里卫生部颁发的最高荣誉—骑士勋章
　　8月初，浙江安吉县人民医院麻醉科医生商剑圆满完成两年的援非任务，戴着马里卫生部颁发的最高荣誉——骑士勋章，回到家乡。商剑，作为第24批援非医生，于2015年7月21日至2017年7月28日在马里医院工作。援非两年时间里，他心里始终想着自己是一名中国医生。近日，笔者采访了商剑，请他讲讲中马人民的友谊，以及医疗援非的故事。

手把手教当地医生操作

　　马里医院是由中国援建的一所综合性医院，是全马里最好的医院之一。它的主要医疗力量都来自中国援非医疗队，就商剑工作的麻醉科而言，除了一名麻醉监护室主任和几名麻醉助手外，其他4名麻醉医生都来自中国。马里医院聚集了马里最顶尖的医疗力量，在整个西非都有很大影响力，是中马友谊的见证，更是中马医务人员交流的平台。

　　“我们援非之前，培训了半年的法语，但是马里人除了说法语，还说一些土话，我们根本听不懂。”商剑说，“第一次手术的时候，我给病人打了局部麻药，并跟病人说‘如果有不适的话请告诉我’。我以为病人理解了我的意思，没想到手术过程中，我发现病人嘴里嘀嘀咕咕。我问翻译才知道，原来病人有点疼。我也有点自责，都是事先沟通不到位造成的。”
　　在这之后，商剑在给病人麻醉的时候都一定让助手、翻译传达清楚意思，同时都自己动手，让助手在边上看。直到有一天马里医院的麻醉科主任对商剑说：“商医生，你们毕竟是要走的，还是让我们多动动手，你在旁边当老师指导吧。”
　　据了解，马里医养分家，看病、手术要预约，三个月能看上病已经很好了，病人做手术连器材也要自己买，援非医生尽最大努力治病救人。在援非的两年时间里，商剑手把手地教会了当地助手如何扎针，以及如何控制药量等。“在我回来之前，我的助手已经能够独立完成任务了，这是我最开心的，也是我援非最大的成就。”商剑说，“临走前，我将安吉县人民医院的工作服赠送给了助手。助手穿上后很高兴地说‘我是中国医生的徒弟’！”

最难熬是对家人的思念

　　有人曾说过：人不经历战乱，体会不到和平的可贵;不出国，不知道祖国有多亲;不远离亲人，体会不到骨肉分离的思念之苦。是的，远离祖国，远离家乡和亲人，在万里之外的非洲，承受了多少离愁别绪。商剑说，两年的援非生涯，最难熬的不是生活的艰辛，也不是工作中的困难，而是对家人的思念。老人生病了、孩子不听话了、爱人工作压力太大，这些都让他牵肠挂肚。虽然作为护士的爱人总是报喜不报忧，但他深知，爱人柔弱的肩膀担负着怎样的重任。
　　问起当初为什么会想到去援非？商剑说：“那时候我们医院杨士雄医生援非，拍了一张照片放在朋友圈里。我看到他穿的白大褂上有一面国旗，很是自豪。心想，如果有机会穿上这样的工作服，代表国家去工作，那该多好啊！后来征集第24批援非医生的时候，我就报名了。”
　　商剑是湖北人，作为一名新安吉人，在安吉县人民医院工作也有十多年了。“在援非期间，最放心不下的就是家人，因为儿子小，父母年纪大，全靠妻子一个人照顾。”商剑说，“马里和中国相差8个时区，国内早上6点钟，马里是晚上10点钟，我就微信语音提示他们母子俩起床，该准备上班和上学了。有时，中午的时候，我们夫妻俩也会抽一点时间聊个天，周末的时候跟儿子视频聊天。他们俩把我当成定时闹钟了。”
　　在马里普通居民家过节
　　马里是西非一个内陆国家，北部是撒哈拉沙漠，全国只有2%的国土面积可以农作，是世界上最贫困的国家之一。援非的31位医护人员的食品大部分来自国内。
　　“马里国民信奉伊斯兰教，宰牲节是他们重要的节日，和我们的中秋节、春节等重大节日差不多。有钱人家宰杀一只羊吃，贫穷的人家至少也要买点肉吃。”商剑说，“在马里，牛羊肉的价格相对便宜，相当于二三十元人民币一公斤。马里人很少吃蔬菜，主食是小米、面包。我们助手家的条件算是好的，中产阶级吧，有房子。宰牲节那天，他邀请我和另外一位医生去他家做客，我带了安吉白茶给他作为礼物。”
　　商剑告诉笔者，马里人一天只吃两餐主食，但很喜欢喝茶，尤其是中国茶，他们在茶杯里放茶和白糖，白糖也是中资企业生产的。“2016年我曾经回国探亲，带了很多茶叶作为礼物送给他们。”
　　商剑和他的助手、同事在一起过宰牲节，餐桌上放着一盘羊肝、一盘面包。“羊肝对于马里人来说是最好的食物，是用来招待尊贵客人的。说句实话，羊肝我们真不喜欢吃，但是必须尊重当地的民俗风情，品尝一块之后，就拿面包蘸汤汁吃。”商剑说，“不管怎样，我们走进了马里普通居民的家里，过了一个传统的节日。”

始终践行中国医生职责

　　在马里，商剑体会到普通老百姓的纯真与善良，人们对于和平生活的渴望！两年来，他完成了很多重症儿童的麻醉。那些原本可能残疾或患重病的孩子，只要走进马里医院，都得到了来自中国医疗团队精心的医治。在马里，不仅马里人民得到中国医疗团队的救助，当地的华人华侨、中资企业人员也因为中国医疗团队而得到更优质的医疗服务。
　　在马里工作期间，商剑充分发挥自己的专业特长为马里人民服务。现在，他传授的“坐式麻醉”已成为马里医院对剖宫产患者的首选麻醉体位，有效减少了产妇卧式麻醉带来的呼吸等影响。在做好麻醉工作之外，商剑还随医疗队积极参与中国驻马里大使馆的重大外事活动，受到中国驻马里大使陸慧英的高度评价和赞赏。

　　“馬里恐怖袭击比较多，家人最担心的就是我的安全。”商剑说，“还好，我们驻地离市中心较远。队里规定只有周六可以出门，而且要结伴。平时我们就在驻地看书、看电视、看手机里的新闻，或者打球、健身，总之还好吧，毕竟我们的祖国强大了，我们在外也安全很多。”
　　“微信成了我们和家人联系的有效方式。记得有一次医院停电三天，恢复通讯后，一打开微信全是家人担心的话语。通过及时沟通情况，家人悬着的一颗心终于放了下来。”
　　春节是中国人的传统节日，援非医疗队也邀请马里医院的同事来参加。马里朋友能歌善舞，大家纷纷上台表演节目，尽管听不懂他们在唱什么，但是从他们的歌声、舞姿中可以看到快乐，因为艺术和医术一样，没有国界之分。
　　援非任务结束之际，因为商剑出色的工作表现，马里卫生部官员给他颁发了最高荣誉勋章——骑士勋章。作为中国援非医疗队的一员，他用理想和信念，践行了医者对职业和人类生命的神圣承诺。这份经历，永驻心间。“平凡与伟大之间，是时间的积累。马里的生活是由很多普通的生活片断组成的。虽然经历了疾病、恐怖袭击等事情，但是作为一名医务工作者，治病救人是职责也是使命，不分国界，不分种族。”商剑说，“我们在马里工作两年，始终坚定一颗爱国心。我自豪，因为我是一名中国医生。”
　　A Chinese
　　Helping Hand in Mali
　　By Tong Siyuan
　　Shang Jian， working in the Anesthesiology Department of Anji People’s Hospital， Zhejiang， returned home with a Knight’s Cross awarded by Ministry of Health in early August this year after completion of two year’s international aid work in the Republic of Mali in West Africa. Cultural Dialogue sits down to quiz the doctor about his mission and the friendship between the Chinese and people in Mali.
　　From July 21， 2015 to July 28， 2017， Shang Jian worked with a team that included four anesthetists from China and several assistants in Mali Hospital， one of the best hospitals not only in Mali but also in western Africa regions. With Chinese specialists constituting the core of the medical team， the hospital is also an important witness of the China-Mali medical exchanges and friendship.
　　“We took part in a six-month language training program before we set off， and took it for granted that we could handle the French basics when we were there，” Shang Jian recalled. “During our first operation there， I realized the patient did not understand what I tried to tell him and found out later that many of the locals only speak the local dialect， for which I felt a little guilty.”
　　The medical service system in Mali， a landlocked country in West Africa， is based on the reservation mechanism， which means a waiting list decides who gets operation at a certain time. The charging system does not include the cost of surgical equipments， which raises the cost sustained by the patient. “I tried my best to teach my assistants so that they can work independently after I leave， which brought me a great sense of accomplishments，” Shang Jian shared.
　　For Shang Jian， the biggest challenge in the two years was not the pressure at work or the hardships of life in a war-inflicted foreign country， but was the separation from the family. “For two years， my wife who is a nurse had to take care of my parents and my son all by herself， but she never complained. And the eight-hour time difference was not easy to handle.” 　　The eighth-largest country in Africa， Mali is one of the world’s poorest countries， with about half the population living below the international poverty line. Its borders on the north reach deep into the middle of the Sahara Desert. The country’s economy centers on agriculture and fishing. During the two years， most of the food supply of the 31 Chinese doctors working in Mali was from China.
　　With a majority of the population being Muslims in Mali， Eid al-Adha is considered the most important festival by the locals. “My assistant invited me to join the celebration at his home， and to reciprocate his hospitality I brought him the Anji White Tea. Many locals are huge fans of Chinese tea.”
　　The expertise and dedication of Chinese doctors have saved the life of many local children. The medical services also reached the local Chinese community. The Chinese medical team’s active involvement in cultural exchange activities was praised by Lu Huiying， representing the Chinese Embassy in Mali.
　　A Tuareg rebellion began in Northern Mali in 2012， led by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad. The chaos triggered a series of social problems， making Mali one of the world’s most dangerous places to live in. “We had to be very careful every day， spending most of our free time in the ‘safe zone’ reading， playing basketball and watching TV. WeChat， an omnipresent mobile phonen social app in China， turned out to be the best communication tool when it came to the connection with my family in Anji. My parents and my wife worried to death when a three-day power failure cut the normal connection.”
　　Beside his work in Mali， Shang was able to find more about the country. The varied everyday culture of Malians reflects the country’s ethnic and geographic diversity. Despite frequent terrorist attacks and long-time social instability， Malians frequently participate in traditional festivals， dances， and ceremonies. Living in a war-ridden country， most Malians wear flowing， colorful robes that are typical of West Africa. Dance also plays a large role in Malian culture. Dance parties are common events among friends.
　　For Shang Jian， who has returned to his hometown safe and sound， the two-year adventure in Africa was a character-building experience that not only saved the life of the Malians but also healed his own soul.