For the first time, a group of eight medical staff was sent to Sao Tome and Principe on Feb 1 to provide medical assistance.

A farewell meeting was held for the medical assistance team.[Photo/scwst.gov.cn]

Located off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa, Sao Tome and Principe is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea.

Officials from China's National Health and Family Planning Commission saw them off at the airport and wished for them to fulfill their tasks successfully.

The medical team, consisting of medical professionals specializing in cardiology, general surgery, and stomatology is expected to perform high-level clinical procedures.

A group photo of the medial team. [Photo/scwst.gov.cn]

Medical professionals on the team are from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, and the Hospital of Stomatology of Sichuan University.

The team will provide medical assistance in Sao Tome and Principe for three to six months.