Chinese doctors creating medical history

By Adel Fruean 03 December 2018, 12:00AM

The Chinese medical team currently working in Samoa have performed medical procedures that were never done before.

The complicated life-saving medical procedures include craniotomy—the surgical removal of part of the bone from the skull to expose the brain—in order to save the life of a young Samoan boy who was fatally injured in an accident.

Chinese Ambassador to Samoa, Wang Xuefeng, said it was the first time for the medical procedure to be done in Samoa.

“For example, Dr. Hong Xinyu, a neurosurgeon, successfully conducted the first ever craniotomy in medical history in Samoa, saving the life of a young boy who was fatally injured in an accident,” he said after officiating recently at a ceremony, where his government donated $500,000 tala worth of medicines and equipment, to the Ministry of Health.

Dr. Wang Jinguo, a urologist, also did transurethral resection of prostate surgeries for a number of male patients, which the Chinese Ambassador said freed them of urinary problems. 

“Dr. Wang Jinguo, a urologist, conducted transurethral Resection of Prostate surgeries so that many patients who had to live on indwelling urinary catheter can now live a normal life without the burden of that condition.”

Mr. Xuefeng said the others such as cardiologist Dr. Zhang Zhiguo, ophthalmologist Dr. Wang Le, endocrinologist Dr. Gang Xiaokun and orthopedist Dr. Qi Baochang were also doing a good job as medical professionals, which has led to them attending to many patients in Samoa.  He said the objective behind the engagement of the Chinese medical team is to build capacity, exchange, share and transfer knowledge and skills to Samoa medical professionals at major departments in the hospital. 

An agreement currently exists between the Governments of Samoa and China, where China will provide a certain amount of medicine, equipment and a medical team to the Samoan Government.

“Since 1980s, the Chinese government has started sending medical teams to Samoa to provide voluntary medical services to Samoan people. Up to now, altogether nearly 100 medical professionals of 15 medical teams have worked in various hospitals and clinics in Samoa.

“The current group of the 15th Medical team comprises of six medical professionals respectively from the Department of Neurosurgery, Urology, Traumatic Orthopedics, Cardiology, Ophthalmology and Endocrinology,” he said. 

In the past four months, members of the Chinese medical team have worked in collaboration with Samoan doctors and nurses to provide medical services to Samoan patients. 

By Adel Fruean 03 December 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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