ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire — Côte d’Ivoire is preparing for a major international medical assistance mission as the Chinese hospital ship Auspicious Ark is scheduled to make an approximately week-long stop in Abidjan in October 2026.

The mission, known as Harmony-2026, is expected to provide free medical consultations, examinations and specialised care to local populations. Recent reports say the ship is scheduled to be in Abidjan from October 14 to 21.

Medical teams aboard the vessel are expected to cover numerous specialties, including cardiology, diabetology, nephrology, neurology, paediatrics, gynaecology and obstetrics, dermatology, ophthalmology, ENT, urology and general surgery. Dental surgery, traumatology, rehabilitation and traditional Chinese medicine are also among the announced services.

Reports indicate that the operation could receive around 600 patients per day, while registration is required before accessing the free consultations.

The mission is being carried out in cooperation with Côte d’Ivoire’s military health services and forms part of broader China–Côte d’Ivoire health cooperation.

The arrival of the hospital ship is expected to give patients access to a wide range of specialist medical services while strengthening practical cooperation between the two countries in healthcare.