On the 8th of August, 2024, the social practice activity titled "Experience China - Investigation on Cancer Prevention and Control in China" generously sponsored by the China Scholarship Council and jointly organized by Dalian Medical University, Peking Union Medical College, and China Foreign Affairs University reached a successful conclusion. Fourteen international students from 11 countries, such as Zambia, Pakistan, and India, at our school joined forces with Chinese and international students from the other two institutions. They embarked on a journey from Dalian, covering a distance of over 1,500 kilometers, traveling from Beijing, the capital city, to Linzhou in Henan Province, and then to Xiangyuan and Wuxiang in Shanxi Province.In five days, they personally witnessed the development of cancer prevention and control and the achievements of rural medical construction in China.
From August 3 to 4, international students arrived in Beijing first. They entered the Epidemiology Office of the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences for teacher-student exchanges.They also visited the former residence of Wu Liande and participated in the exchange meeting of the School of Population Medicine and Public Health of Peking Union Medical College. They comprehensively learned and understood the development history of public health for cancer prevention and control in China.
From August 5 to 6, the students arrived in Linzhou City, Henan Province, the second stop of this activity. They entered Linzhou Esophageal Cancer Hospital and the esophageal cancer prevention and research base. Here, they learned about the development history of Linzhou Esophageal Cancer Hospital and the prevention and treatment process of esophageal cancer in Linzhou City. They also witnessed on the spot the "spirit of the Beijing medical team", characterized by "keeping the mission in mind, not fearing difficulties, being brave in exploration, and being willing to contribute". Later, they visited the Hongqiqu Memorial Hall and the Youth Tunnel. They were profoundly impressed by the "Hongqiqu spirit" of "self-reliance, hard work, unity and cooperation, and selfless dedication".
On August 7, the students reached the final destination of this activity - Shanxi. They visited the maternal and child health hospitals in Xiangyuan and Wuxiang to study the prevention and treatment history of cervical cancer. Through on-site visits to village clinics, they obtained an understanding of the on-site management and follow-up processes in the research of HPV vaccines and cervical cancer screening. Additionally, the students visited the Taihang Memorial Hall of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang to further study and comprehend China's revolutionary historical culture.
The social practice activity titled "Investigation on Cancer Prevention and Control in China" is a brand-new social practice initiative jointly established by our university and Peking Union Medical College as part of the "Experience China" program. It also signifies the deepening cooperation between the two institutions.This activity has not only effectively enhanced communication and interaction between Chinese and foreign students but also assisted international students in systematically learning about the development process and related knowledge of cancer prevention and control in China. Moreover, through field visits, it has allowed international students to personally experience the progress of rural medical care and the achievements of revitalization and construction in China. Furthermore, it has enabled them to perceive a real, three-dimensional, and comprehensive China, thus providing vivid materials for international students to tell the story of China well.
After the activity, each international student who took part in this event submitted a high-quality study report. They all expressed their sincere gratitude to the China Scholarship Council and the school. They were thankful for being offered such a valuable learning opportunity and talked about their respective gains from different perspectives. They stated that they would share what they had seen, heard, and learned during this event with their classmates, family, and friends at school, so that more people could understand the rapid development of Chinese medicine and the comprehensive revitalization of Chinese villages, and attract more people to approach, know, and understand China.
