By Zhu Yingliang

‘In the past one year, we have lost some weight, our skin has darkened, our hair has turned white, but our hearts are still burning with passion!’ On 8th October, in Nantong First People’s Hospital, Du Boxiang, the leader of the 20th China (Jiangsu) Medical Team to Guyana, and two members, shared their foreign aid stories with their colleagues.

Fill the gap in local medical services

As the leader of the medical team, Deputy Director of the Department of Anesthesiology of Nantong First People’s Hospital, Du Boxiang, used a set of significant numbers to depict the team’s year-long journey of hard work: received 11,130 outpatients, completed 2,034 surgeries, successfully treated 155 critically ill patients, and provided traditional Chinese medicine treatments to 2,898 people. However, in his opinion, what is more important than the numbers is to leave ‘a medical team that can not be taken away’ for Guyana.

‘The local medical conditions are limited, and many advanced technologies are lacking. We not only need to treat diseases, but also teach local people how to treat themselves.’ Guided by this principle, Du Boxiang led the team to introduce more than 100 new technologies and conduct more than 140 training sessions. Among them, fluorescent laparoscopic technology and electronic analgesia pump technology for childbirth appeared in Guyana's medical field for the first time, filling the local technological gap.

The medical team also took the initiative to go out of the clinic and go deep into remote tribes to promote the ‘Healthy Tribe’ series of free clinics, bringing medical services to the villagers' doorsteps. Their efforts not only won the recognition of local people, but also won the recognition of Guyana’s top leaders —— President Ali praised the Chinese medical team as an important symbol of friendship and solidarity between China and Guyana, and personally awarded the ‘Presidential Medal’ to each team member.

Traditional Chinese medicine ‘won the hearts’ of three generations of a family

As the only traditional Chinese medicine expert in the medical team, Ji Weipeng, Deputy Director of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Department of Acupuncture of Nantong First People’s Hospital, with acupuncture, massage and other traditional Chinese medicine techniques, created a wave of ‘traditional Chinese medicine fever’ in Guyana.

When they arrived, many local people did not understand traditional Chinese medicine, some even doubted it. Ji Weipeng did not rush to explain, but let the treatment effects speak for him. He did acupuncture to patients suffering from neck, shoulder, waist and leg pain, helping them to straighten their backs again. He also taught local people to practice Ba Duan Jin and Tai Chi, passing on the Chinese medicine concept of ‘preventive treatment’.

Gradually, more and more people started to trust traditional Chinese family. In one family, the grandmother had arthritis and went to him, and the treatment was very effective. After that, the son and grandson also came for treatment. The three generations have become ‘fans’ of traditional Chinese medicine.

Solve gynecological treatment challenges

‘In Guyana, there is a shortage of minimally invasive gynecological equipment and limited specialized medical resources, leaving many female patients facing difficulties in accessing treatment.’ Han Yun, Deputy Director of Gynecology of Nantong First People’s Hospital, recalled.

Without sufficient equipment, she found ways to optimize existing resources. Local doctors lacked technical skills, she offered hands-on training. Han Yun not only personally performed complex minimally invasive gynecological and advanced endoscopic surgeries, but also took on the responsibility of operating on all gynecologic malignancies in the hospital, using her superb skills to open ‘life channels’ for patients. At the same time, she helped develop a comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and treatment strategy for local people, establishing a complete system from prevention to treatment.

To help more women prioritize their health, Han Yun appeared on Guyana’s national television to record public health programs, gave health lectures at local universities, and shared information about HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening through social media. ‘Building a health barrier for women in Guyana is the thing I’m most proud of during my medical aid mission,’ Han Yun said.

【背景阅读】

“我们的心是火热的”

——南通一院援圭医疗队的援外故事

“这一年，我们体重轻了，皮肤黑了，头发白了，但我们的心是火热的！”10月8日，在南通第一人民医院，第20期中国（江苏）援圭亚那医疗队队长杜伯祥和两名队员，向同事们分享自己的援外故事。

填补当地医疗空白

作为医疗队队长、南通一院麻醉科副主任杜伯祥用一组沉甸甸的数字，勾勒出团队一年的奋斗轨迹：接诊门诊患者11130人次、完成手术2034台、成功救治危重患者155人次、开展中医诊疗2898人次。但在他看来，比数字更重要的，是为圭亚那留下“带不走的医疗队”。

“当地医疗条件有限，很多先进技术都是空白，我们不仅要治病，更要教会当地人治病。”秉持着这样的理念，杜伯祥带领团队引入100多项新技术，开展140余次培训。其中，荧光腹腔镜技术、用于分娩的电子镇痛泵技术等，更是首次出现在圭亚那的医疗领域，填补了当地的技术空白。

医疗队还主动走出诊室，深入偏远部落推进“健康部落”系列义诊，把医疗服务送到村民家门口。他们的付出，不仅赢得了当地民众的认可，更获得了圭亚那高层的肯定——阿里总统称赞中国医疗队是中圭友好团结的重要象征，还亲自为每位队员颁发“总统奖章”。

中医“圈粉”祖孙三代

作为医疗队里唯一的中医专家，南通一院中医科副主任、针灸科副主任季炜鹏，凭着针灸、推拿等中医技术，在圭亚那掀起了一股“中医热”。

初到当地时，不少民众对中医并不了解，甚至带着疑虑。季炜鹏没有急于辩解，而是用疗效说话。他为受颈肩腰腿痛困扰的患者扎针，让他们重新挺直腰杆；还手把手教当地民众练习八段锦、太极拳，把中医“治未病”的养生理念传递出去。

渐渐地，越来越多的人开始信任中医。有一户人家，奶奶因关节炎找他治疗后效果显著，随后儿子、孙子也陆续前来就诊，祖孙三代都成了中医的“粉丝”。

破解妇科诊疗难题

“圭亚那妇科微创设备不足，专科力量薄弱，很多女性患者面临看病难的问题。”南通一院妇科副主任韩云回忆说。

没有充足的设备，就想办法优化现有资源；当地医生技术不足，就手把手带教——韩云不仅亲自开展复杂妇科微创及四级腔镜手术，还承担起全院妇科恶性肿瘤手术的重任，用精湛技术为患者打开“生命通道”。同时，她还帮助当地制定宫颈癌全周期防控策略，从预防到治疗形成完整体系。

为了让更多女性重视健康，韩云还走进圭亚那国家电视台录制科普节目，在当地大学举办健康讲座，通过社交媒体发布HPV疫苗接种、宫颈癌筛查等知识。“能为圭亚那女性筑起一道健康防线，这是我援外期间最骄傲的事。”韩云说。