SHANGHAI, June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ethiopian coffee has been rapidly gaining traction in the Chinese market in recent years, with sales growing at a staggering rate of 27 percent annually.

Ethiopia’s pavilion is seen at the CIIE.

This rapid growth has been significantly boosted by platforms such as the China International Import Expo and cross-border e-commerce, which serve as effective gateways for overseas brands to enter China and present numerous opportunities for Ethiopian businesses.

One standout success story is the Ethiopian coffee brand Gera, which showcased roasted coffee beans at the third CIIE. During the expo, the brand’s Yirgacheffe and Sidamo coffees were signed up to a prominent cross-border e-commerce platform, immediately available for consumers.

During the fifth CIIE, Ethiopian highland coffee with vibrant orange packaging was drawing eyes. After being showcased in an e-commerce livestream during the expo, 17,000 boxes were sold in just one evening. Online sales of Ethiopian coffee surged 300 percent during the sixth CIIE.

Traditionally, Ethiopian coffee growers and processors only accounted for less than 10 percent of profits in the export trade, with the majority of profits lying in distribution and sales. Leveraging the CIIE for cross-border e-commerce sales has effectively reduced trade costs, benefiting Ethiopian coffee farmers and allowing Chinese consumers to enjoy premium coffee beans at more affordable prices.

Witnessing the growing popularity of Ethiopian coffee among Chinese consumers, Tefera Derbew Yimam, Ethiopian ambassador to China, expressed great delight. He noted that China has become one of the primary importers of Ethiopian coffee. Ethiopian coffees have received rave reviews at the CIIE over the years, prompting many businesses to showcase their products at the event. “The embassy will continue to facilitate Ethiopian business participation in the expo,” Yimam said.

Coffee trade is just one aspect of the trade relationship between China and Ethiopia. Products like sesame seeds and green beans from Ethiopia have also made their way to supermarkets, stores, and retail markets in China.

At the sixth edition of the expo, Ethiopian sesame trader Duka Engineering & Trading Plc reached a preliminary cooperation agreement with Shandong’s Ruifu Sesame Oil Co Ltd, which would purchase 6,000 metric tons of sesame seeds.

In October 2023, Ethiopia and China upgraded their bilateral relationship to an all-weather strategic partnership. In a joint statement, China expressed its desire to continue encouraging and supporting Ethiopian exports to China, including agricultural and food products.

With the Chinese market serving as a key driver of Ethiopian exports, Ethiopia’s distinctive offerings are expected to make a splash at this year’s expo, presenting vast business opportunities for its enterprises.

Contact: Ms. Cui Yan
Tel.: 0086-21-968888
Email: exhibition@ciie.org
Website: http://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ciieonline
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ciieonline

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HONG KONG, June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — According to Sensor Tower’s newly released rankings of Chinese mobile games by overseas revenue and downloads, Newborn Town’s flagship game, Alice’s Dream: Merge Games (hereinafter referred to as “Alice’s Dream” or “Alice”), ranked 13th in growth and 28th in revenue among all Chinese mobile games in overseas markets for May.

Alice’s Dream is one of Newborn Town’s mobile merge hits as it’s fused multiple elements of building, business simulation, dress-up, and social networking since its launch in June 2022. In 2023, the “ring puzzle” became one of Alice’s major gameplays, making it draw more attention from global players and frequently recommended by Google Play.

Since its release, Newborn Town has consistently refined the game’s quality, leading to Alice’s Dream’s business takeoff in 2023. As a result, it was listed among the top 10 in Google Play’s highest-grossing puzzle games from over 140 countries and regions. According to Newborn Town’s annual result, Alice’s average monthly revenue has exceeded $8 million since Q4 2023.

Sensor Tower’s statistics revealed that hybrid casual mobile games maintained their growth momentum despite the global mobile game recession, achieving a 105% year-on-year increase in May 2024. This tendency made the game genre a promising area in the eyes of Chinese mobile games that focus on overseas markets.

Hybrid casual games are known to succeed in tapping into the potential of casual gamers. They not only retain the easy-to-pick-up nature of hyper-casual games but also incorporate richer content and game mechanics, boosting player engagement and retention rates.

Newborn Town also began investing in this category in 2019, as it observed the prospect of hybrid casual mobile games. By leveraging its deep understanding of the overseas mobile game market, Newborn Town decided to prioritize Western markets due to the mature gaming landscapes in Europe and North America, which are also the largest markets for hybrid casual games.

From January to November 2023, the American hybrid casual game market generated over $800 million in revenue, accounting for 42% of the total, while the European market produced about $370 million, representing 20% of the total revenue.

In some previous media coverage, Newborn Town’s development team has had many years of experience producing hybrid casual games. Highly knowledgeable about Western market trends and user preferences, this team has also gone through the entire development process of several merge games, gaining extensive expertise in art design, genre selection, etc.

Moreover, Newborn Town independently developed the intelligent game framework Solar Creator to enhance R&D efficiency. Based on the company’s technical advantages in the AI field, Solar Creator has closely aligned with Newborn Town’s game dev needs and helped avoid “reinventing the wheel”, one of the most common problems during development.

What Newborn Town has achieved in its games business was also underscored in the annual results briefing on March 2024. Li Ping, the CEO of Newborn Town, stated that the company would further enhance Alice’s Dream’s commercialization capabilities while continuously incubating new apps and developing more ‘evergreen’ products.

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LONDON, June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — WHAT: London’s most spectacular, new luxury hotel The Peninsula London was the setting for a magical Grand Opening Celebration on Tuesday, 18 June. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh joined luminaries from the fields of art, film and entertainment including Sophie Turner, Sabrina Elba, Billie Piper, Lady Helen Taylor, Pixie Geldof and many more. Over 2,500 guests from across the globe took over the hotel for an unforgettable night of entertainment and exceptional hospitality, accompanied by energetic Chinese Lion Dancing, music from the London Philharmonic Orchestra, a roster of nine live bands and renowned DJs, and a courtyard filled with gourmet food trucks and priceless vintage cars.

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh honoured the occasion by unveiling a commemorative plaque, marking the culmination of this momentous project, which has been nearly 40 years in the making.

Full Imagery: HERE

WHO: The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, along with the Kadoorie family, welcomed guests including Amber Le Bon, Anthea Turner, Bettina Korek, Billie Piper, Conner Ives, Charli Howard, Clara Paget, Didi Stone, Francesca Hayward, Grace Carter, Kelly Hoppen, King Pavlov of Greece and Marie-Chantal Miller, Lady Helen Taylor, Lady Penny Mountbatten, Marcellino Sambe, Mark Francis, Natasha Ndlovu, Nick Hendrix, Jessica Ellerby, Oswald Boateng, Paul Forman, Pippa Vosper, Pixie Geldof, Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Alia Al Senussi, Sabrina Elba, Sophie Turner, Timothy Han.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 18 2024

WHERE: The Peninsula London
               1 Grosvenor Place
                London
                SW1X 7HJ

The Peninsula London, located at the corner of Hyde Park, officially opened its doors on 12 September 2023, receiving a warm reception from both British and international guests. Its rooftop restaurant, Brooklands by Claude Bosi, achieved the distinguished honour of gaining two Michelin stars within just four months of opening, further establishing The Peninsula London as a beacon of luxury and sophistication.

CREDIT: Photos by Dave Benett for Getty and Rowben Lantion

NOTES TO EDITORS

About The Peninsula London
Ideally situated in the heart of Belgravia, with views over Hyde Park Corner and Wellington Arch, The Peninsula London occupies one of the city’s most prestigious addresses. The newly built hotel, impeccably designed to harmonise with surrounding heritage buildings is just moments away from the city’s most iconic attractions, including Three Royal Parks, Buckingham Palace, Harrods, and Big Ben. Its 190 light-filled guest rooms and suites have been exquisitely designed by Peter Marino; its gathering spaces include several world-class restaurants and bars, including Brooklands helmed by Michelin-Starred Chef Director Claude Bosi; the idyllic Peninsula Spa, and a luxury retail arcade.

About The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH)
Incorporated in 1866 and listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (00045), HSH is the holding company of a Group which is engaged in the ownership, development and management of prestigious hotel, commercial and residential properties in key locations in Asia, the United States and Europe, as well as the provision of tourism and leisure, club management and other services. The Peninsula Hotels portfolio comprises The Peninsula Hong Kong, The Peninsula Shanghai, The Peninsula Beijing, The Peninsula Tokyo, The Peninsula New York, The Peninsula Chicago, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, The Peninsula London, The Peninsula Paris, The Peninsula Istanbul, The Peninsula Bangkok, and The Peninsula Manila. The property portfolio of the Group includes The Repulse Bay Complex, The Peak Tower and St. John’s Building in Hong Kong, SAR; The Landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and 21 avenue Kléber in Paris, France. The clubs and services portfolio of the Group includes The Peak Tram in Hong Kong, SAR; Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, California; Peninsula Clubs and Consultancy Services, Peninsula Merchandising, and Tai Pan Laundry in Hong Kong, SAR.

Learn more at www.peninsula.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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TAICANG, China, June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On June 18, the signing ceremony for the Taicang Alps Resort Phase II project, a one-stop ice and snow-themed urban resort destination under Fosun Tourism Group (Fosun Holiday, stock code: 01992.HK), was grandly held at Club Med Urban Oasis Taicang Resort. The Phase II project, with a total investment exceeding 5 billion yuan, will be funded by the Taicang Municipal Government and managed by the Fosun Tourism Group.

Wang Xiangyuan, Secretary of Taicang Municipal Committee, Xu Huadong, Vice Secretary of Taicang Municipal Committee and the mayor, Wang Hongxing, Chairman of Standing Committee of Taicang People’s Congress, Zhao Jianchu, Taicang CPPCC Chairman, Guo Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun International, Xu Xiaoliang, Co-CEO of Fosun International and Chairman of the Board of Fosun Tourism Group, Zhu Wenkui, VP of Fosun International and Secretary of Fosun Party Committee, Cao Minglong, President and Chief Operating Officer of Fosun Tourism Group, and Bao Jiangjun, Co-President of Fosun Tourism Group and CEO of Taicang Alps Resort attended the ceremony and announced the official launch of the Phase II project.

Vice Secretary of Taicang Municipal Committee and the mayor, Xu Huadong stated, “In recent years, Taicang has forged a strong partnership with Fosun International to develop the largest indoor ski resort in East China. The launch of the Taicang Alps Resort has been a resounding success, quickly establishing itself as a leading ice and snow tourism destination in the Yangtze River Delta. It has received frequent praise on CCTV, substantially increasing Taicang’s fame and attracting a surge in visitors. Ice and snow tourism is an emerging sector within the travel industry. Building on this momentum, both parties are now preparing for the Phase II project. This strategic expansion is set to reinforce Taicang’s position as a leader in the ice and snow market of the Yangtze River Delta, enhancing its reputation as a premier ‘ice and snow world’ destination in the southern region. Taicang is fully committed to advancing the Phase II construction with dedication, aiming to create new landmarks in ice and snow tourism. This initiative will elevate the city’s status as a key hub for the ice and snow industry and strategically develop a comprehensive tourism plan. Our vision is to transform Taicang into a captivating leisure destination within the Yangtze River Delta, where every location offers picturesque views, convenience, and memorable experiences.”

Creating a “World-Class Ski Resort,” Phase II Construction Officially Launched

Taicang Alps Resort Phase II project is funded by the Taicang Municipal Government and managed by the Fosun Tourism Group. Guided by its mission to become the largest-scale one-stop snow-themed resort destination, the Phase II project aims to set several world records in ski resorts, including the longest indoor ski slope and the most comprehensive entertainment facilities.

The ski resort will cover a total area of approximately 190,000 square meters, potentially making it the largest indoor ski resort in the world. With its design inspired by “Xiangyun Ruyi” (Auspicious Clouds), it echoes the “Snow Ruyi” of the Beijing Winter Olympics’ Zhangjiakou outdoor ski resorts, setting a new trend in China’s ski industry. The ski resort will feature three slopes: a snowboard slope, an intermediate slope, and an advanced slope. Skiers of all levels can enjoy a total slope length of 1,700 meters, including a 690-meter single slope with a vertical drop of 120 meters.

In addition, the Phase II project will include snow-view hotels and themed hotels, offering a variety of themed rooms to create an immersive accommodation experience. The resort will also feature a comprehensive range of facilities, including a water park, a land park, hot springs, an aquarium, and dining shows. Along with activities like dome walking, bungee jumping, and interactive light shows, the resort will offer a rich and diverse one-stop ski experience.

Promoting the Popularization of Winter Sports and High-Quality Development of the Ice-Snow Economy

In recent years, China has continuously released several positive signals in support of the development of the ice-snow industry through providing policy support and planning guidance. As part of its “Several Measures to Stimulate Tourism Consumption Potential and Promote High-Quality Development of the Tourism Industry” published in September 2023, the State Council recommended: “Develop the ice-snow economy, promote the entire industrial chain of winter sports, equipment, and tourism, and strengthen ski resorts.” China’s expanding winter sports consumer base is driving rising market demand. The ice-snow tourism industry has evolved from solely ticket sales to a diversified consumption model, with ice-snow products advanced from sport and sightseeing attributes to a vacation model integrating sports, tourism, and entertainment.

As a model of vacation ice-snow products, Taicang Alps Resort continuously optimizes and upgrades its ice-snow experience in response to the call to “engaging 300 million people in ice and snow activities” initiative. The Phase II project will provide year-round fun for professional skiers and unique snow-themed leisure vacation experiences for tourists. There will be a diverse array of formats available in Phase I and Phase II that will meet the needs of all ages.

Since its opening, the Alps International Resort Phase I has garnered approximately 320,000 visitors. With the launch of the Phase II project, Taicang Alps Resort is moving closer to its goal of becoming the “world’s leading and largest indoor ice-snow vacation and entertainment destination.” The successful operation of Phase I provides confidence and motivation for the Phase II project, supporting Taicang’s development into a world-class ice-snow industry hub. The resort will foster a robust winter sports and related industries, with an all-encompassing ice and snow industry chain. This initiative aims to propel Taicang into a new era of dual-driven development – “the home of German enterprises” and “the city of ice and snow”. The goal is to establish a globally recognized one-stop destination for winter sports tourism.

The signing of this project marks a significant milestone for Fosun Tourism Group in implementing its asset-light strategy. As one of the earliest Chinese companies venturing overseas, Fosun Tourism Group has accumulated extensive industry experience and built a professional team over the years through the introduction of globally recognized IPs. In early 2023, Fosun committed to an asset-light approach for future endeavors, prioritizing enhancement in product, brand, service, and experience. Fosun Tourism Group’s fiscal year 2023 performance revealed ongoing shifts in revenue profile, with tourism operation revenue soaring beyond 93% while real estate rose fractionally to under 7%. This transition epitomizes Fosun’s evolution towards a predominantly asset-light business model.

In the realm of ice and snow, Fosun Tourism Group has established both indoor and outdoor infrastructure, allowing for diverse ski experiences. Notably, Alps Snow Live offers indoor experience, while Club Med operates three outdoor ski resorts in China – at Yabuli, Beidahu, and Changbaishan. As a global leading brand in winter tourism, Club Med currently operates 25 outdoor ski resorts worldwide, spanning renowned destinations such as the Alps, Hokkaido, and Quebec.

Xu Xiaoliang, Co-CEO of Fosun International and Chairman of the Board of Fosun Tourism Group, stated: “As a key snow-themed one-stop high-end urban resort destination created by Fosun Tourism Group, Taicang Alps Resort has quickly become a popular destination for families and young people in the Yangtze River Delta region since its opening in November 2023. The signing of the Phase II project not only demonstrates our leadership in the ice-snow industry but also represents a significant milestone in Fosun Tourism Group’s light asset operation strategy. In the future, Fosun Tourism Group will continue to leverage its global resources and industry operation capabilities in the ice-snow industry, bringing more engaging and diversified ice-snow vacation experiences to tourists nationwide while promoting the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Delta’s cultural and tourism industry.”

**END**

About Taicang Alps Resort

Developed by Fosun Tourism Group, Taicang Alps Resort is located in Taicang, Suzhou, adjacent to Taicangnan Station and Jiading District of Shanghai, which is just an hour’s drive from downtown Shanghai. The resort spans over an area of 1 square kilometer with a total construction area of about 1.3 million square meters. With a wide range of experiences, such as winter sports, leisure, hotels, dining, shopping, and exhibition services, it strives to become a one-stop high-end urban resort destination. The resort is themed around the “Alps” and Phase I features six major themed experience zones: Alps Snow Live Ski Resort, Alps Snow Live Ice and Snow Park, Club Med Urban Oasis Taicang Resort, Alps Times, Alps Camp, and Alps Cosmos. The Phase II project will include the world’s largest indoor ski resort, hotels with snow views, theme hotels, water parks, land parks, hot springs, aquariums, and other related facilities, offering an extensive one-stop snow-themed city vacation experiences.

About Fosun Tourism Group

Fosun Tourism Group (also known as FTG and Fosun Holiday, stock code: 01992.HK), is a world-leading leisure-focused integrated tourism group. As a core component of Fosun’s Happiness business segment and embracing the mission of “Better Holiday, Better Life”, Fosun Tourism Group endeavors to pioneer holiday lifestyle and create a world-leading family leisure and tourism ecosystem.

Fosun Tourism Group owns brands and products including Club Med, the global leader operating more than 60 resorts that offers exquisite “all-inclusive” holidays; Atlantis Sanya, a one-stop ocean-themed integrated high-end tourism destination; Taicang Alps Resort and Lijiang Club Med Resort, two one-stop global leisure and tourism destinations; Foryou Club that serves members of Fosun Tourism Group worldwide, etc.

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MAASTRICHT, Netherlands, June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Pie Medical Imaging, a global leader in cardiac imaging, announced the completion of enrollment in FASTIII, a multi-center randomized clinical trial, which investigates the use of angiography-based vessel fractional flow reserve (CAAS vFFR) in patients undergoing coronary revascularization procedures.  vFFR can assess whether a coronary artery narrowing is functionally significant and may require revascularization.

CAAS vFFR Software

FASTIII is the largest non-inferiority trial running (having enrolled 2228 patients), in which an angiographically derived vFFR guided strategy is compared to a FFR guided strategy to guide coronary revascularization. The primary endpoint is a composite of all-cause death, any myocardial infarction, or any revascularization at 1-year post randomization.

Following the tremendous efforts of the principal investigator, Dr Joost Daemen (cardiologist at Thoraxcenter at the Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands), over 35 participating centers and ECRI (sponsor of the trial), the patient enrollment has concluded.

“The FASTIII trial is aimed to establish the role of vFFR to coronary revascularization in patients with intermediate coronary artery lesions. An important milestone was reached Friday, May 31^st, 2024, when the last patient was enrolled”, said Joost Daemen Principal Investigator of the trial. “The next phase will consist of close follow-up of all patients who generously agreed to participate in the important trial. We hope to present our findings by the end of 2025″.

Additionally,

“PMI is committed to providing clinicians and patients with long-term coronary data to inform their treatment decisions, ” said René Guillaume, Managing Director at Pie Medical Imaging. “Our prior studies have shown diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility of vFFR calculation”. FASTIII will establish its role in routine clinical practice.

The trial is funded by research grants from Pie Medical Imaging (Maastricht, The Netherlands) and Siemens Healthineers (Erlangen, Germany). The study is sponsored by ECRI (European Cardiovascular Research Institute, Rotterdam-the Netherlands). Cardialysis (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) is responsible for trial services including trial management and Core Laboratory activities.

About Pie Medical Imaging

Pie Medical Imaging BV is a world leader in analysis and visualization of cardiovascular images. In Maastricht (The Netherlands), it hosts the global sales for the CAAS and 3mensio product lines.

PMI and 3mensio Medical Imaging part of the Esaote Group, leader in the biomedical equipment sector.  More information about PMI is available at www.piemedicalimaging.com 

Photo – https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2438118/CAAS_vFFR.jpg?p=medium600
Logo –  https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2438117/PMI_logo.jpg?p=medium600

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HONG KONG, June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — With the continuous improvement of mainland China’s healthcare standards, advantages such as expert consultations, no long waiting times, and affordable costs have attracted many Hong Kong residents to seek medical care in Shenzhen. Recently, Shenzhen TreeENT has been highly praised by Hong Kong residents. Many netizens on social media recommend TreeENT, noting that it provides medical services on par with those in Hong Kong, especially in addressing long waiting times and high costs for ENT specialists. For Hong Kong residents who face difficulties in booking appointments, long specialist waiting times, and high medical costs, TreeENT offers an efficient and affordable new option for their ENT health issues.

In Hong Kong, where the cost of living is relatively high, both public and private healthcare systems, despite offering extensive services, often frustrate residents with difficult appointment scheduling, long wait times, and high costs. Especially for specialist and day surgeries, patients often face prolonged waits. During holidays, the waiting time for emergency services exceeds 8 hours, and ENT patients sometimes wait up to two years for an initial consultation. Recent data shows that in the past 12 months (from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024), there were 10,000 new appointment cases for ENT specialist outpatient services. Facing these challenges, more Hong Kong residents are seeking medical services in other regions of the Greater Bay Area for a better experience and value.

Located in Futian, Shenzhen, TreeENT Health (abbreviated as TreeENT) is a medical institution within the Greater Bay Area’s one-hour medical circle, specializing in ENT diagnostics, minimally invasive surgery, and chronic disease management. TreeENT, with its advanced equipment and professional team, provides medical services of the same standard as Hong Kong, making it the preferred choice for many Hong Kong residents with sensory health issues.

In terms of cost, TreeENT’s value significantly surpasses that of medical services in Hong Kong. For example, ENT diagnosis in Hong Kong’s private hospitals generally start at HKD 1,000, with complete treatment costs starting at least HKD 50,000. At TreeENT, the specialist consultation fee is only RMB 380 (approximately HKD 430), with routine consultation costs around RMB 2,000 (approximately HKD 2,100), and surgery costs averaging RMB 40,000 (approximately HKD 43,100). This means that Hong Kong residents opting for TreeENT can significantly reduce their medical expenses, saving up to 70%. Moreover, TreeENT can quickly schedule surgeries within days, significantly shortening patient waiting times, which is hard to achieve in major Hong Kong hospitals.

Adhering to the core values of “Safe • Efficient and Warm,” TreeENT implements an efficient appointment system to reduce patient waiting times. For instance, TreeENT’s dedicated customer service can complete an appointment for a patient in just one minute. Upon arrival, patients can enjoy a professional consultation and examination within one hour. If surgery is needed, it can be arranged within a week, with same-day discharge. Because of the efficient appointment system, TreeENT’s doctors have more time to communicate with patients, ensuring each patient receives more comprehensive and personalized medical services.

Located in the core of the Greater Bay Area, TreeENT in Shenzhen leverages its convenient geographical advantage and advanced medical technology to provide high-quality medical services quickly accessible to Hong Kong residents. Just an hour’s drive away, Hong Kong residents can reach the clinic for treatment. Whether it is rhinitis, snoring, sleep apnea, ear infections, hearing loss, or other complex ENT issues, TreeENT can provide professional diagnosis and effective treatment.

In summary, for Hong Kong residents, choosing TreeENT Health in Shenzhen not only eliminates long wait times and high medical costs but also offers professional and attentive services. With its comprehensive services and warm environment, TreeENT has become the preferred medical institution for Greater Bay Area residents from Hong Kong, thoroughly addressing the challenges faced in the local healthcare system.

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