Since April 1963, Shanghai Second Medical College (predecessor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine) dispatched medical professionals to Algeria as part of China's first medical assistance team. The team included Dr. Qi Jiayi, Director of Pediatrics at the affiliated Xinhua Hospital, Dr. Hu Zengji, Deputy Director of the Pulmonary Department at Guangci Hospital, and Dr. Cao Jinkang, Deputy Director of the Physiology Teaching and Research Group at the Basic Department. This marked the beginning of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine's involvement in sending medical assistance teams abroad.
Over the past 60 years, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, in line with the principles of international humanitarian rescue, has, under the unified deployment of the National Health Commission, sent batches of medical teams abroad. These teams have worked wholeheartedly and selflessly, dedicating themselves to the health of the people in the assisted countries and forging deep friendships with the local populations. Every moment of medical assistance from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine over these 60 years has left an indelible mark on those distant lands and in the hearts of the team members.
In recognition of these efforts, the Human Resources Department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine has been honored with the title of "National Advanced Collective in Foreign Aid Medical Work." The department received warm reception and acknowledgment from the Party and state leaders. This recognition not only highly praises and commends the foreign aid work of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine but also serves as a full affirmation and recognition of the school's contributions to education and healthcare. It provides strong impetus for the continued reform and development of the School of Medicine.
Recently, the medical assistance team of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine's affiliated hospitals successfully completed a two-year medical mission in Morocco.
In October 2021, a team of 12 experts from various departments, including Wang Zhiyong from the Burn and Plastic Surgery Department of Ruijin Hospital, Zhang Jun from the Orthopedics Department, Qi Yan from the Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Department, Ni Xiaoyan from the Burn and Plastic Surgery Department, Liu Hui from the Logistics Support Department, Zhang Lei from the Pediatric Surgery Department of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Zhang Jianhai from the Anesthesiology Department of the First People's Hospital, Cai Bin, Zhou Long, Wang Ye, Ming Xu from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinical Medical Center, and Wu Kai from the Trauma Clinical Medical Center, were dispatched as the 194th batch of Chinese medical assistance team members to Morocco. With the trust of their homeland and the concern of the entire medical community at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, they traveled across thousands of miles, reaching the cities of Meknes and Ksar el-Kebir in Morocco to provide medical assistance.
Over the course of two years, members of the medical assistance team in Morocco demonstrated noble medical ethics and exceptional medical skills in serving local patients. With selflessness and fearlessness, they endured the challenges posed by the rampant COVID-19 pandemic and the difficult period following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Morocco on September 8. Despite these hardships, they continued to leverage the professional strength of Chinese healthcare professionals, providing excellent service to the people of Morocco. They fully exemplified the spirit of Chinese medical assistance teams abroad: "fear no hardships, willingly dedicate oneself, save lives and assist the wounded, boundless compassion."
As the members of the medical assistance team in Morocco expressed, "The tradition of 'watching and helping each other' is passed down, and all team members deeply understand that they not only bear the responsibility of medical service but also convey the spirit of 'selfless dedication and boundless love.' They are messengers of enduring Sino-Moroccan friendship." They further emphasized, "In the 60 years of China's foreign medical assistance, all those who have engaged in foreign medical assistance have consistently upheld a solemn commitment to life. Successive batches of medical assistance team members have, through their selfless dedication and collaborative efforts, collectively composed the magnificent epic of foreign medical assistance."
