A Chinese medical team has earned widespread praise for rendering aid to a young woman who had fainted during a New Year's Eve celebration in Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati, on Jan 1. One member of the team is Zhao Shanshan, a doctor from the Anesthesiology Department of the Second Hospital of Shandong University.

The five members of the Chinese medical team had arrived in Kiribati on Dec 9, 2023, to begin a year-long deployment during which they will provide free medical services to the public.

On Jan 1, a local girl named Mari collapsed and fell into a coma while dancing with her companions. Dr. Zhao and her team, who were also present at the event, swiftly acted and determined that she was experiencing shock and cardiac arrest, likely caused by the high temperatures and intense physical activity. They then started performing chest compressions on the patient. Approximately three minutes later, Mari regained consciousness.

After recovering, Mari and her family expressed their gratitude to the Chinese medical team. Chinese Ambassador to Kiribati Zhou Limin also sent a message to convey his respect to the medical team.

Kiribati is an island nation located in the central-western Pacific. Zhao, a 34-year-old member of the third Chinese medical team to be deployed in Kiribati, has been actively involved in various medical procedures within a short period since arriving. She has also promoted a series of cutting-edge medical technologies and earned praise from the local people and hospitals.

Zhao Shanshan (right) and her team members check on Mari (middle), who fainted at a New Year's Eve party in Tarawa, capital of Kiribati on Jan 1. [Photo/sdu.edu.cn]

Zhao Shanshan (center) teaches local doctors in Tarawa, Kiribati. [Photo/sdu.edu.cn]

Members of the Chinese medical team perform a cardiac ultrasound examination on a 3-month-old baby in Kiribati. [Photo/sdu.edu.cn]