Bazimo Louis (1st R, back) and his colleagues learn Traditional Chinese Medicine in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhihao)

TAIYUAN, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-seven years ago, a brief encounter in a hospital in Burkina Faso changed the life of Bazimo Louis. He watched Chinese doctors use acupuncture to relieve a patient's back pain, and decided that one day, he would learn Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) himself.

Now, Louis, 59, is a renowned acupuncturist in Burkina Faso with more than three decades of clinical experience and a respected practitioner of TCM in Africa.

His first encounter with acupuncture came in 1988, when he accompanied his cousin, a football player suffering from a back injury, to a local hospital in Burkina Faso. There, a Chinese medical team was treating patients.

"I saw how just a few fine needles could ease the pain, it was incredible," Louis recalled. "I asked the doctor many questions about acupuncture, and that conversation deeply inspired me."

A year later, Louis began studying biology at university and decided to travel to China to learn acupuncture. He studied Chinese for two years at Beijing Language and Culture University, before entering Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1991 to specialize in acupuncture. He remained in China for eight years.

After returning home, Louis gradually became the head of the acupuncture department at the largest hospital in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou. As one of the few acupuncturists in the country, Louis not only treats patients but also promotes the practice across Africa. He regularly attends medical seminars at home and abroad, sharing his expertise with doctors from other African nations.

Fluent in Chinese, Louis can now write emails in the language. "My time in China was unforgettable," he said. "I have always wanted to return."

That wish came true this August. He came with a group of 31 doctors from French-speaking African countries to Shanxi TCM Hospital for a three-week training program on clinical applications of acupuncture and massage therapy.

"Many of us come from different disciplines such as physiotherapy, neurology, and orthopedics," Louis said. "We hope to bring Chinese techniques back to our countries and help more patients."

Acupuncture was first introduced to Africa through Chinese medical aid missions. Since China sent its first medical team to the continent in 1963, the practice has spread steadily.

According to China's National Health Commission, 113 World Health Organization member states now officially recognize acupuncture, and integrated Chinese-Western medicine has become an important part of healthcare development in many African countries.

North China's Shanxi Province, one of the earliest regions in China to send medical teams to Africa, has played an active role in medical cooperation. The Shanxi TCM Hospital is one of China's oldest TCM research institutions with extensive clinical experience in acupuncture and massage therapy.

"In Burkina Faso, acupuncture is becoming more popular," Louis said. "However, there are still very few acupuncturists, which is why our country sent 11 doctors from different provinces to learn in China."

Louis added that acupuncture offers significant advantages in treating certain conditions. "For some illnesses, drugs or surgery don't work very well, but acupuncture can be highly effective, affordable, and free of side effects," he said. "Many patients travel hundreds of kilometers to see me after reading about acupuncture in newspapers or watching it on TV."

He recalled one case clearly: "A 15-year-old paralyzed boy came to me for treatment. After several acupuncture treatments, he gradually stood up and started walking. Some patients with headaches feel instant relief after treatment. It's truly amazing."

Now, three major hospitals in Burkina Faso have established acupuncture departments, and the number of patients seeking TCM treatment continues to grow.

Even after more than 30 years of practice, Louis remains a student of Chinese medicine. "Traditional Chinese medicine is profound," he said. "There are still many secrets waiting to be explored. One day, I hope I can build an acupuncture hospital dedicated to providing TCM treatment for patients in my country." ■