Celebrating 100th anniversary of CPC | Chinese medics make miracle survival possible in Guinea

Guinea, with humid and hot climate and frequent epidemics, has long suffered from a severe shortage of medical resources. Over the past five decades, Chinese medical teams have helped the country develop its own medical and health projects and brought hope to its people.

On Oct 25, 2017, Guinea's first thoracotomy operation was conducted at a China-built friendship hospital by a Chinese medical team. Kaita, who was undergoing the surgery, had a large cyst in his lung. 

In the past, such patients as him had to seek medical treatment in France or Morocco. Kaita's treatment had been delayed as it was not affordable for his poverty-stricken family.

When he came to the Chinese medical team, the doctor found the volleyball-sized cyst had compressed his heart. The only chance of his survival was an instant surgery.

However, the operation was full of risks due to a lack of surgical instruments, extreme scarcity of medicine and unstable power supply in the country.

A Chinese doctor checks Kaita's X-ray. 

Saving lives is the top priority. The Chinese medical team rose to the challenge. The operation began after 20-plus days of preparation. But just a few minutes after Kaita's chest was opened, danger struck as a power failure occurred and the doctors could not see anything.

This was a life-threatening moment, as any damage to the patient's large blood vessels could cause massive bleeding. 

The Chinese doctors conduct the operation with the flashlight of a mobile phone during the sudden power cut.

"Use mobile phones," said Wang Yang, the attending doctor, in darkness determinedly. His assistants took immediate action and held their phones up high. 

After taking a deep breath, Wang continued the surgery calmly. They worked from 8 am to 6 pm, successfully removing the cyst from Kaita's right lung and putting a final end to the suffering that had plagued Kaita for more than 10 years. The Chinese medics were hailed as "miracle makers" by the local medical workers.

This story is just one example of the great work Chinese medical teams in Guinea have done.