Lan Yi talks to a patient. [Photo/CQHCWC]

Lan Yi, an obstetrician and gynecologist of the Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children (Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University), or CQHCWC, in Southwest China's Chongqing, as well as a member of the 11th Chinese medical aid team to Papua New Guinea (PNG), returned to Chongqing on Aug 10.

The team returned after giving 16 months of aid at Port Moresby General Hospital in the country's capital. 

Deng Li, deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission, attended the welcome ceremony at the airport. A group of seven representatives from the CQHCWC, including its vice-president Zhou Wei, were also present.

As the leader of the team's publicity group, Lan Yi not only helped promote the health of locals, but also led the organization of various cultural activities.

Lan Yi (L2) offers laparoscopic training to local doctors in PNG. [Photo/CQHCWC]

Lan visited 16 provinces and cities in PNG over the course of over three months to provide 10,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for locals, Chinese in PNG, and employees of Chinese-funded enterprises. She also offered vaccination training to local medical workers.

After arriving at Port Moresby, PNG was hit by its second outbreak of COVID-19, and more than 250 of 2,000 staff members at the Port Moresby General Hospital were infected. 

In spite of the unfamiliar environment, Lan participated in the anti-pandemic fight, formulating life and work emergency plans and standard operating procedures, establishing doctor-patient communication groups, guiding treatment, relieving the anxiety of patients, and following up on their recovery, and more.

Lan Yi (middle, front) poses for a group photo with local medical workers in PNG. [Photo/CQHCWC]

Due to limited medical resources and insufficient equipment, she trained local doctors with the laparoscopic simulator, helping them complete the first laparoscopic surgery for giant ovarian cysts and torsion of the pedicle of ovarian cysts in mid-pregnancy. 

She also helped introduce minimally invasive techniques based on laparoscopy to PNG.

In addition, Lan organized a variety of activities to build a communication platform for women in PNG, teaching women there about health.

In recent years, the CQHCWC has been participating in medical aid launched by the country and the city.