By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
232News
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The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E Ambassador Wang Qing and the Minister of Health, Dr Austin Demby during a farewell and welcome ceremony for the 24th and 25th batches of Chinese Medical Expert Team in Sierra Leone on the 7th March, 2024 at the Chinese Embassy expressed optimistic of a stronger medical tie between the two nations.
Chinese Ambassador, H.E Ambassador Wang Qing reflected that the Chinese Medical team (CMT) 24 came in a special year for Chinese Medical Team as 2023 marked the 60th anniversary of China dispatching its first Chinese Medical Team abroad and the 50th Anniversary of China dispatching medical team to Sierra Leone. Early that year, President Xi replied to the members of CMT aiding the Central African Republic, requesting that they shall never forget their original aspirations, keep their mission in mind, vigorously practice the spirit of CMT, and make greater contributions to the construction of a community of common health for mankind. I am honored to say that during the CMT24’ one-year stay in Freetown, they made outstanding performance on carrying forward the spirit of the Chinese medical team which is “defying hardships, dedicating selflessly, saving lives, healing the wounded, and spreading boundless love”. They have treated more than 22,000 patients and carry out over 450 operations.
“I can still recall some stories which are widely spread and deepened the traditional friendship between our two people. One of the examples is that they successfully performed cataract removal for a 105 years old patient and brought light back to her, another one is that they removed as many as 19 uterine fibroids for a deaf-mute patient, there were many other complex operations I cannot count them all, many lives were saved and pains were relieved due to their diligent work. They explored to extend their service beyond their precedent colleagues, like organized more than 10 times of outreach free clinics for different groups, including providing malaria screening for children on global malaria day, providing physical examination and nutritional assessment for orphans on June 1st the children’s day, and joining one of the “Hospitals on Wheels” tours to give free clinic and donate medicines to local people.”
He went on to say the CMT joined the special working group for upgrading Sierra Leone Traditional Medicine Policy, offering technical support and Chinese experiences on traditional medicine development. They traveled to several remote districts to recognize the distribution and growing condition of Traditional Medicine useful herbs to explore feasibilities of massive use and industrialization of herbs in the future. CMT24 also organized many hand-on-hand trainings for local staff, collaborated with other hospitals and NGOs and helped to popularize the health knowledge and medical skills.
“Now they will fulfill their duty and return to China, but their friendship with Sierra Leonean people will be remembered forever,” he said.
While welcoming CMT25 to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Qing said they came at a critical moment to China-Sierra Leone cooperation in health sector.
“I say this because we just received reassurance of personal commitment from our leaders. As you all know, last week H.E President Julius Maada Bio paid a state visit to China and had an in-depth exchange of views on China-Sierra Leone relations with his counterpart President Xi Jinping. They reached extensive and important common understandings. It was stated that our two governments applauded the cooperation results in public health, epidemic prevention and control, and agreed to further promote people-to-people exchanges, and deepen and consolidate the foundation of friendship between the two countries and peoples.”
The Sierra Leonean side expressed gratitude for China’s long-standing support for Sierra Leone’s health sector, especially during Ebola and COVID-19. The Chinese side will strengthen cooperation with Sierra Leone in human resource development and continue to dispatch medical teams to Sierra Leone. I think this visit will unveil a new era for the consolidation of bilateral relations and diversification of practical cooperation, which injected new momentum to the deepening of the China-Sierra Leone Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, including our long-standing and productive cooperation in health sector.”
He added that “I say this also because we are at an important moment to further upgrade and diversify our cooperation in health sector. We had made some exploration recently and achieved great success. Last December, we witnessed Sierra Leone launching its first National Virus Hepatitis Policy and Strategy with support from China CDC and WHO. This January, we organized a productive International Seminar on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, letting experts from China, Sierra Leone, and international partners all sit together to discuss how to better promote disease control work in Sierra Leone. Last month, we had two expert teams visited Sierra Leone, they came from XiangYa Hospital which is one of the best hospital and medical colleges of China and they intended to enhance training of nursing of Special Care Baby Unit in Jui Hospital and conduct standard patient safety assessment in 3 hospitals. This Tuesday, we just held a close out meeting for concluding a Chinese Global Development and South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund supported project aiming at improving women’s health and reaching vulnerable women at high risk of maternal mortality and cervical cancer, for which we partnered with UNFPA and MOH. As part of a national strategic plan for eliminating cervical cancer, now the cervical cancer screening and treatment services have been established in public health facilities in 9 facilities. As the last action of the project, a blood bank will be established in Jui Hospital and many other useful medical equipment and office equipment will be donated to the 9 facilities, which will give them a new start to further develop their reproductive services.”
He concluded by expressing fully confidently that CMT25 will take over the heavy task from CMT24 and give even better performance in Sierra Leone with their excellent clinical skills and benevolence.
“With our joint efforts, we can deliver more and help the human capital development in Sierra Leone better support the economic and social development in the future.”
Director of Hunan Health Commission, Cao Yuebin, said in 1973 China began to send the first medical team to Sierra Leone, which was sent by their team from Hunan Province. Since then, he added they have jointly deepened cooperation in the filed of medical and health care, jointly fought against Ebola and Covid-19, jointly carried out projects such as “Guangming Action” maternal and child health among others.
Captain of the 24th CMT Dr. Chen YongJun, thanked the embassy and the people of Sierra Leone for their support in making their stay warmed.
Captain of the 25th CMT Dr. Lu ChaoQun also expressed optimistic and readiness to build on where batch 24 left.
Dean of the Jui Hospital, Dr. Sarah Conteh disclosed that batch 24 comprised of 21 personnel. She thanked the team leader and team for their support to them and the managements of the hospital.
“We are very much optimistic to what we would achieve this year and we look forward to the partnership.”
Sierra Leone Minister of Health, Dr Austin Demby, described the day as a very special one for them. He reflected that China is the first country to donate vaccines to them and the Jui hospital has been one of the major hospitals in the country.
The minister also spoke about the mobile buses that reaches people in their different communities for medical screening.
He pointed out that 70% of those that go to the hospital are women and children’s, men only go to the hospital when they are in critical condition but the buses made a lot of difference as they go from one community to the other.
“The people are grateful and thankful for what batch 24 done to them, leaving their families and everything behind. What they have done is a true friendship by sacrificing their time and energy, building relationships and friendship. Team 25 don’t be intimidated I know when you come to the Jui Hospital, you will do bigger things, I trust you and the people of Sierra Leone trust you and welcome you to Sierra Leone. Let us build this relationship with strength and love,” he stated.
Present at the ceremony also were the Deputy Health Minister, Charles Senisse, and other leadership from MOH, delegation from Health Commission of Hunan Province of China, representatives from UNFPA, UNICEF, Jui Hospital, and other partners.
