China is doing more than building roads in Africa. It’s also curing patients.

A Pew Research Center study found that China’s favorability is rising with other nations. One way China achieves this in Africa is through public medical aid.

Chinese medical support in Africa dates back half a century — in 1963, China sent 100 healthcare workers to assist Algeria after it gained independence from France. However, the level of involvement has been increasing in the past decade.

In 2006, at the third Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), held in Beijing, Chinese and African officials introduced measures to broaden bilateral cooperation, including medical care and public health. The Chinese spent an estimated $35 million on health-related projects in Africa in 2006. By 2014, they were disbursing an estimated $150 million annually. Chinese parties build health facilities, donate supplies, grant funds, and provide staff.