JUBA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese medical team in South Sudan on Friday offered treatment and food donation to children at the state-owned Juba Orphanage during an event to mark the International Children's Day.

The sixth batch of Chinese doctors treated children with eye and skin infections and also donated foodstuff to boost their nutrition status.

"Children are the hope of a nation, they have great potential. We the Chinese say, when the young are strong, the country is strong. So children should get care from the society," said Sun Yaxi, head of the China medical team in South Sudan.

"We are really happy to see that China and South Sudan enjoy a close and lasting partnership," Sun added.

Angelo Kenyi, Director of the Orphanage in the capital, Juba, appreciated the Chinese doctors for their consistent support to the children's home in the last five years.

Kenyi appealed to donor agencies to support the orphanage since it lacks basic necessities like food, medicine and learning materials.

Since independence of South Sudan in 2011, China has dispatched five medical teams with a total of 66 members to offer specialized medical care and surgeries to about 50,000 patients across the east African county.

Isaac Maker, Medical Director at South Sudan's biggest public health facility, the Juba Teaching Hospital, hailed the role played by the Chinese doctors.

He said the people of South Sudan have benefited a lot from the Chinese doctors in the last five years.

"I really thank the Chinese medical team not only for coming here to donate something to the orphans, but also for coming all the way from China to give medical service to our people," said Maker.

"Your feeling towards these children is appreciated. What you are doing will change the lives of these children. They will always remember the Chinese people," he added.