China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital opens soon at Jui

Freetown, July 30 (SLENA) – A five-man Chinese Advance team has made an assessment mission to Freetown for the official opening of the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Ultra-modern hospital at Jui in Kossoh Town, outside Freetown.

The Joint Assessment mission comprising of officials of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation(MOHS), Health  and Sanitation  Minister, Zainab Hawa Bangura and the Chinese Team Leader, Malian Wen at a meeting arrived at a consensus for the hospital to be officially opened in August this year.

Addressing the team at a meeting held in the hospital campus at Jui, Kossoh Town, Health and Sanitation Minister, Zainab Hawa Bangura underscored the importance of the arrival of the Chinese Advance Team, describing it as significant and timely.

The arrival of the team, the minister reiterated, has given the assurance for the official opening and functioning of the hospital that will articulate President Koroma’s urge for functional health care delivery system thus reduces the burden on overseas treatment for some Sierra Leoneans.

Mrs. Bangura noted that the 48-man Chinese Team would be working with their local Sierra Leonean counterparts, expressing the need for them to transfer their skills and knowledge to them by way of experience sharing and building what she referred to as a resourceful team for quality health care delivery service.

Sierra Leoneans, Mrs. Bangura said, have long awaited the operations of the hospital and on behalf of the President, the government and people of Sierra Leone, extended warm welcome to the Advance Team, and thanked the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone and the Government of the Peoples Republic of China for their continue support.

The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Joseph Kanu, said the team’s arrival in the country to help boost the country’s health system would further strengthening the long standing bilateral relationship between China and Sierra Leone, adding that his office is always open for any assistance they would need.

The Team Leader of the Chinese contingent, Malian Wen, told the meeting that the rest of the team would be here early in August, adding that drugs and equipment have also been shipped as part of the consignment procured for the smooth running of the hospital.

Meanwhile, 48 staff among them 15 doctors, 14 nurses and other support staff are due in Freetown soon.

In another development, Health and Sanitation Minister, Zainab Hawa Bangura, the WHO Representative, Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu, the Consultant, Association of Public Health Laboratory and Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Isata Wurie, together with senior officials of the Health Ministry visited the National Reference Laboratory at Lakka and the proposed site for the construction of a National Blood Services Centre with a view to making the Laboratory and Blood Services Units more viable.

Health and Sanitation Minister, Zainab Hawa Bangura, noted the significant strides government is making towards improving the country’s health care delivery system with support from partners noting that the modalities now put in place would make Sierra Leone the second in the MRU with such facilities and saves the country from sending critical samples and test to Senegal and Abidjan for confirmation.

The Minister and team were led on a conducted tour of the facilities by the Consultant, Association of Public Health and Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Isata Wurie. The team visited various sites which included the specimen processing for all tests and DNA, the newly refurbished WHO Laboratory, the Bacteriology Department and the proposed additional expansion site, among others.

JAK/MOHS/SLENA 

Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!

© 2012, https:. All rights reserved.