São Tomé and Príncipe will soon have its first neurosurgeon. 26‑year‑old Elyane Neto, a native of São Tomé, has completed seven years of general medical training at the University of Moscow. After a two‑month volunteer internship at the Central Ayres de Menezes Hospital, she has been awarded a scholarship to specialise in neurosurgery in Russia. Neto will depart for Moscow on Thursday to begin her residency. “I enjoy the challenge of treating the central nervous system, especially the brain,” she said. “Neurosurgery is a specialty that has never existed in our country.” The lack of neurosurgical services in São Tomé and Príncipe has been highlighted by Neto’s observations during her internship. “We see many young patients with neurological conditions such as stroke or thrombosis, and a growing number of motorcycle‑related head injuries,” she explained. She noted that many patients do not receive adequate medical care for these conditions. Neto comes from a family of physicians. Her father is one of the country’s senior doctors, also trained in the former Soviet Union. Her older brother, aunt, and sister‑in‑law are also medical professionals. In October, Neto worked for two weeks with a team of eight Russian specialists who visited the Central Ayres de Menezes Hospital. The visiting team performed surgeries in general surgery, maxillofacial surgery, stomatology, and other specialties, treating dozens of local patients. The arrival of a neurosurgeon is expected to improve access to specialised care for São Tomé and Príncipe’s population, addressing a critical gap in the country’s health system.