In a remarkable demonstration of China-Sierra Leone medical cooperation, the 26th Batch of the Chinese Medical Team successfully performed Sierra Leone’s first-ever finger replantation surgery during the National Day holidays.
The groundbreaking procedure was performed after an emergency request from a Chinese enterprise where local electrician Sallieu Sorious Yusifu Conteh suffered a severe finger amputation while working at a mining site in Port Loko.
Facing a critical situation with extensive bleeding and potential tissue death, Conteh had initially resigned himself to losing his finger completely. “I had already given up and told them to remove the finger completely,” he recalled emotionally after the surgery. However, the Chinese medical team restored both his hope and his finger. A specialized team led by Deputy Chief Physicians Dr. Zeng Lei from Orthopedics and Dr. Liu Bo from General Surgery, along with Senior Nurses Hong Yuan and Liu Xue, quickly assembled for the emergency procedure.
“This achievement represents a significant advancement in Sierra Leone’s medical capabilities,” Dr. Zeng stated, emphasizing the time-sensitive nature of the complex surgery. After thorough examination, the medical team discovered Conteh’s ring finger hanging by a small bridge of skin, requiring immediate and precise intervention.
During the more than two-hour operation at the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, surgeons worked meticulously under operating lights, ultimately restoring blood circulation and functionality to the injured digit. “The Chinese performed a true miracle,” Conteh expressed tearfully after the procedure. “Thank God for sending the Chinese to restore my finger.”
This medical breakthrough represents another milestone in the 62-year history of China-Africa medical cooperation that began in 1963 when China dispatched its first medical aid team to the continent. Local medical professionals praised the achievement, noting that such successful collaborations strengthen the foundation for continued medical cooperation between the two nations.
Senior Nurse Hong Yuan reaffirmed the Chinese Medical Team’s commitment to bringing advanced medical techniques and continuing to safeguard the health of African communities, further strengthening the enduring friendship between China and Sierra Leone through healthcare cooperation.
