Guo Quan, a gynecologist from Shenyang Hospital in Liaoning Province, China, was part of the fourth batch of medical teams sent to The Gambia. Guo’s dedication to Africa stems from his belief in the urgent need for doctors in the region. His team, consisting of nine other medical professionals, arrived in The Gambia in November 2020, responding to an invitation from the Gambian government.
The team, selected from various hospitals in Liaoning Province, specialized in fields such as gynecology, general surgery, and orthopedics. Their mission was to build on previous successes and provide essential medical assistance to The Gambia.
Despite facing challenges due to limited local resources, including outdated equipment and shortages of supplies like oxygen and blood, Guo and his team performed over 100 surgeries during their time at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul, the Gambian capital. Guo recalled his first surgery in The Gambia, where he removed a patient’s right adnexa and appendix under challenging conditions.
Their dedication earned them respect and trust from their Gambian colleagues and patients. Guo and his team even provided emergency treatments, including surgeries on fishing boats at sea and treating injured fingers.
The Chinese medical team has become a symbol of Sino-Gambian friendship, with Liaoning Province sending six medical teams to The Gambia since 2017. Guo emphasized the mutual respect between the Chinese team and the Gambian people, highlighting the community’s trust in Chinese doctors.
During their assignment, the team completed numerous outpatient visits, hospitalizations, surgeries, critical care resuscitations, and other medical procedures without error. They also provided traditional Chinese medicine and mentored local young doctors to cultivate more medical professionals in The Gambia.
Thanks to Guo and his team’s efforts, local doctors in The Gambia have learned gynecological laparoscopic techniques and surgical skills, conducting surgeries independently in 2022. The Chinese medical team’s mission has not only provided essential medical services but also transferred knowledge and skills to improve healthcare in The Gambia.
