Just after the New Year, a special little patient arrived at the neonatal ward of a hospital in Natitingou, Benin, Africa.

The 27th medical team from Ningxia saved the 28-day-old newborn baby from a congenital megacolon combined with an umbilical hernia through a combination of Chinese and Western medicine.

The newborn was recently discharged from the hospital after treatment by the Chinese doctors and their Benin counterparts.

The newborn had developed symptoms, including delayed bowel movements and recurrent bloating, shortly after birth. Local doctors provided anti-inflammatory and fluid replacement treatments but failed to achieve results. When she learned there was a neonatologist on the Chinese team, the baby's mother sought their help.

After a thorough examination, Wei Yu, a neonatologist on the team, diagnosed that the newborn had contracted a congenital megacolon combined with an umbilical hernia.

If the baby hadn't been treated on time, small intestine colitis, intestinal perforation, sepsis and pneumonia might have occurred within two months after birth, said Wei.

After discussing with traditional Chinese medicine doctor Feng Fulong and pharmacist Wang Ruiwei, Wei introduced an economical and humane treatment plan that combined Chinese and Western medicine.

After two weeks of treatment, the newborn began to gain weight and show signs of recovery.

The mother thanked the doctors with local delicacies and took pictures with them.