Freetown, 2nd June 2026 — The China‑Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital has marked a historic breakthrough in women’s healthcare, after a visiting Chinese gynaecologist successfully performed the country’s first extrafascial total hysterectomy with sacrouterine ligament suspension.
Dr. Song Yuying, part of the 27th Chinese (Hunan) Medical Team, led the operation on Mariama Bundu, a 30‑year‑old patient suffering from dozens of large uterine fibroids. Pre‑surgery scans revealed her uterus had expanded to the size of a seven‑month pregnancy, with tumours crowding her pelvic and abdominal cavities.
Rejecting the traditional “subtotal hysterectomy” often used locally, Dr. Song opted for a more advanced procedure to ensure complete removal and eliminate the risk of recurrence. On May 20, she collaborated closely with Sierra Leonean colleagues, explaining each surgical checkpoint as the operation progressed.
Midway through the delicate surgery, the hospital was plunged into darkness by a sudden power outage, a common challenge in West Africa’s strained electrical grid. With temperatures rising and visibility compromised, the team relied on emergency flashlights and a single shadowless lamp. Despite the conditions, Dr. Song’s expertise guided the successful removal of the 2.8‑kilogram uterus.
Thanks to the advanced technique, Mariama was walking the day after surgery and has since returned to normal life. Overcome with gratitude, she told her doctor in halting Chinese: “Xie Xie! Wo Ai Zhong Guo!” (“Thank you! I love China!”).
Local physician Samuel Ngaujah, who assisted throughout, praised the operation as transformative. “This extrafascial total hysterectomy is incredibly valuable to us. Its clear anatomical pathways, minimal blood loss, and rapid recovery times make it the exact technique we need to adopt,” he said.
The landmark surgery not only sets a new benchmark for gynaecological care in Sierra Leone but also underscores the enduring medical partnership between China and Sierra Leone. The Chinese team’s dedication, even under extreme conditions, has left both patients and local doctors inspired, a testament to the power of international medical cooperation.
