On September 22, the 18th Chinese Medical Team returned home after a year and a half of vital medical assistance in São Tomé and Príncipe. Among the esteemed team members are Dr. Bo Yang, deputy chief physician of the Department of Trauma and Plastic Surgery, and Yi Wang, nurse-in-charge of the Outpatient Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,both from West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University (WCHS SCU). Dean Prof. Xianglong Han, alongside fellow school representatives, greeted the returning team with enthusiasm at the airport.

During their stay in São Tomé and Príncipe, the team members have treated a large number of acute and critical clinical problems for local people and shared advanced concepts in medical technology and management, greatly bolstering the country’s healthcare expertise.Meanwhile, the team spearheaded the first randomized controlled trial on children’s oral health adhering to international standards, titled “Research on the Prevention and Effect Evaluation of Dental Caries in Children in the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe”. Additionally, they conducted the first clinical work titled “A study on the effectiveness of acupuncture-assisted analgesia in tooth extraction” which explored the innovative application of acupuncture-assisted analgesia in dental procedures as a viable alternative to local anesthetics. These works were led by Dr. Yang and Wang, together with experts from the WCHS and other institutions in China, and two groundbreaking research reports were submitted to the Ministry of Health of São Tomé and Príncipe, focusing on dental caries prevention and tooth extraction innovative procedures. These reports not only address critical gaps in the country’s oral health research but also present tailored, practical medical solutions for local needs, highly acclaimed by both major media outlets and the local government.

Since 2017, the West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University (WCHS SCU) has dispatched four batches of healthcare professionals to join the Chinese Medical Team, making significant contributions to offering free treatment, enhancing health services, and improving the quality of life in São Tomé and Príncipe. These efforts have been widely acclaimed by both the government and the people of the country. One of the team members, Dr. Lin Que from WCHS, has been awarded the honorary title of "Advanced Individual in Nationwide Medical Aid Work Overseas" by the National Health Commission in 2023. As the National Center for Stomatology, WCHS remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering China-Africa medical cooperation, boldly tackling various oral diseases, and cultivating the seeds of health.