Aure with the medical team at the Weight Management Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]
A woman from Mali recently completed a life-changing journey at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. Having traveled more than 11,000 kilometers from Mali in West Africa to the heart of Zhejiang province, Aure (a pseudonym) successfully underwent bariatric surgery and is now on the path to a healthier life.
For years, Aure lived in a body that had become a barrier. Standing at 1.62 meters tall and weighing 149 kilograms, she had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 57 — clinically defined as super severe obesity. She had tried both injections and restrictive diets repeatedly, but it only lead to endless cycles of hope followed by relapse.
The turning point came through a serendipitous connection. Aure was introduced to Jin Ting, a member of the 30th Chinese Medical Team to Mali from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. After learning about her struggle, Jin connected her with the Weight Management Center at Wenzhou Medical University.
Her journey began in December 2025. Upon learning of her case, Vice-President Chen Zimiao organized a multidisciplinary team (MDT) to conduct a remote consultation. The team, comprising experts in gastrointestinal surgery, endocrinology, anesthesiology, and respiratory medicine, reviewed her medical history and unanimously recommended a surgical solution.
On Dec 31, 2025, Aure arrived at Wenzhou Airport and was greeted by the Chinese medical team, who presented her with New Year gifts and warm clothing to combat the winter chill — a gesture that immediately eased her anxiety.
On the operating table, Professor Han Yu, a renowned bariatric surgeon, performed a Sleeve Gastrectomy utilizing a state-of-the-art 3D laparoscopic system. In a 1.5-hour procedure, approximately 80 percent of the greater curvature of her stomach was removed. The surgery was a technical triumph, with minimal trauma and a blood loss of merely 5 milliliters.
Yet the operation was only the beginning. Recognizing that surgery is merely a tool, the Weight Management Center employs a "Whole-Cycle Management" model. This includes preoperative risk assessment, intraoperative monitoring, and, crucially, long-term postoperative rehabilitation. Aure's recovery plan was a combination of Western medical precision and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) holistic wisdom.
Just seven days after her surgery, Aure had already shed 10 kg. More importantly, she regained the confidence that had long been diminished. "I want to thank the medical team for their professionalism and care," she said, beaming. "I will return to Mali not just with a lighter body, but with the knowledge to lead a new life."
This successful case represents more than a personal victory for Aure. It is a shining example of South-South cooperation in healthcare, demonstrating how Chinese medical technology and the "Humanistic Hospital" concept can bridge geographical divides to serve humanity.
