In the sweltering heat of July, Monica Iosefo, a surgical nurse from Samoa, is fully immersed in the full spectrum of surgical oncology nursing at the general surgery ward of Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Making her first trip to Guangdong, she has been deeply impressed by a well‑established, standardized system for oncology diagnosis, treatment and care.

This is Monica's first time in Guangzhou, and she arrived at Nanfang Hospital with great excitement, cherishing this rare learning opportunity. "I hope to gain a thorough understanding of the complete clinical workflow during this training, familiarize myself with the local healthcare environment as soon as possible, and learn from the nurses and doctors here," she said. Monica noted that Samoa's domestic healthcare system lags far behind Guangdong's, with a lack of supporting treatment methods that leaves many cancer patients without access to standardized care.

During ward observations and hands-on training sessions, Monica carefully compared the differences between the two regions' healthcare systems. "Here, I have seen many treatment options in cancer that are completely unavailable in Samoa. Comprehensive postoperative rehabilitation and quality control throughout the entire nursing process are healthcare resources that our country urgently needs," she said."The medical staff at Nanfang Hospital have been very friendly. They have shared their clinical experience with me without reservation, allowing me to gain a great deal from this training," Monica added.

Halfway through the month-long training program, Monica has already mapped out her plans for after returning home. She said she would share the standardized nursing procedures and oncology rehabilitation care experience she learned in Guangzhou with her colleagues in Samoa, helping address gaps in local oncology nursing and providing better support for more cancer patients.

"I hope such cross-border medical training programs can continue, allowing more Samoan healthcare professionals to come to Guangdong to learn advanced medical knowledge and skills," Monica said. She hopes ongoing exchange programs will help safeguard the health of people in Pacific Island nations.