The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Alie Kabba was the guest of honour at this year’s Public Health reception held at the Chinese Embassy on Thursday 21 June, 2018. He also used this ceremony to bid farewell to the outgoing 19^th China Medical Team.

On behalf of His Excellency, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the government and the people of Sierra Leone he expressed appreciation to the Chinese doctors and health experts who stood in harm’s way during the Ebola scourge, and their invaluable contributions in restoring health and safety to this nation as a clear demonstration of the adage, ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’.

The Foreign Minister stated, that development is much more enhanced in a country when its people are in sound health and mind, underscoring that this is why President Julius Maada Bio’s government places priority on establishing a robust health care system that is efficient, reliable, cost effective, affordable and sustainable; capable of responding to epidemics such as cholera, Ebola Virus Disease, Lasa virus, Zika, etc.

Dr. Alie Kabba commended the Chinese for the construction of the P3 laboratory and the establishment of virus detection mechanism that is resonate with the President’s agenda under the new direction, which underscores the need for improved surveillance system to prevent the spread of viral outbreak.

Whilst welcoming the 20^th China medical team to Sierra Leone, the Foreign Minister expressed President Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to deepening the tie between Sierra Leone and the People’s Republic of China for more cooperation in areas that promote the welfare of the people of Sierra Leone.

The Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Wu Peng, expressed thanks and appreciation to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Sierra Leone for their support. He thanked the outgoing 20 members of the 19^th China Medical Team for the excellent job they have offered at Jui hospital since June 2017. He lauded the efforts of the Chinese military medical institutions that have conducted a number of detection and treatment work on African infectious diseases and the training of a number of local medical workers at the 34 Military Hospital since last year. ‘The Chinese government is always willing and ready to help Sierra Leone out of poor medical conditions’, Amb. Wu Peng concluded.

Statement by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Brima Kargbo; the Chief of Defense Staff of RSLAF, Major General Brima Sesay; and the awards of certificates to the outgoing Chinese public health workers climaxed the evening reception.