When Chinese gynaecologist Dr Jincui Li arrived in Samoa nearly a year ago, she quickly noticed a pattern — women arriving at the hospital far too late for effective treatment.

"Women are the backbone of every community. Investing in their health means investing in the future," said Dr Li. Sadly, throughout the 10 months that Li has been in Samoa, she has noticed that early intervention of infections is often delayed, increasing the risks to mothers and babies.

“Sometimes, women come five years after first noticing symptoms,” she explained. “By then, it’s too late to treat the cancer. We see many cases like that." 

Dr Li is an associate professor and educator in China and has been balancing clinical work with a passion for community education. “There’s a lack of diagnosis,” she emphasised. “If women learn to check themselves and know the signs, it could change everything.”

Beyond the hospital, Li said that she works alongside a local group of staff and does outreach programmes to educate women in communities about their health, family planning, and the importance of regular checkups.

Throughout her time in Samoa, she has witnessed cases where a small cyst — left unchecked — developed into a serious condition over the years. “One woman was diagnosed two years late,” she recalled. “She didn’t know how serious the illness was.”

Although she’s worked hard this past year, she admits more awareness campaigns are needed. “Early diagnosis is very important, especially in this community.”

But the task is not easy. Like her colleague in the ICU, she faces the challenge of limited equipment, medicine shortages, and not enough trained staff. “For gynaecology and cancer care, we don’t have enough,” she said. “There’s no cancer medicine. No treatment options.”

Despite these obstacles, she continues to share her expertise with local medical teams. “We are here to support and to teach,” she said. “We learn from each other.”

With just two months left in her assignment, she reflects on the experience with warmth. “Samoan people here are very kind,” she said. “And the food — it’s delicious.” She hopes to explore Savai'i before she heads back home.