The Chinese embassy in Liberia has donated a huge quantity of medicines and medical equipment to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center. The donation is said to be in observation of the 40th anniversary of the arrival of the China Medical Team in Liberia.
Speaking during the donation ceremony on Tuesday,February 27, 2024 at JFK, the Chinese Ambassador accredited to Monrovia, H.E. Yin Chengwu, emphasized that, as President Xi Jinping has underscored, the Chinese people value peace and life, and foreign medical assistance is a testament to this commitment.
According to him, since 1984 China and Liberia have forged a robust partnership through China-Aid Medical Team Program, standing shoulder to shoulder in combating outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19.
The China-Aid Medical Team has embodied the noble spirit of “braving hardship, being willing to dedicate, saving lives and helping the injured, and showing great love”, carrying forward the torch of benevolence and remaining steadfast in their mission.
“In 2022, our two governments signed a new round of protocol for dispatching China’s medical team to Liberia (2022-2027), further strengthening our ties,” he observed.
“This year is the 16th batch of China-Aid Medical Team to Liberia. We deeply appreciate their unwavering commitment to serving the Liberian people and Chinese compatriots with exceptional medical care.”
Their efforts, he said, go beyond healing; they serve as valuable “health ambassadors”, fostering friendship and understanding between China and Liberia.
He said on May 18, 2020 President Xi Jinping announced in his speech at the opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly video conference that 30 China-Africa paired hospital cooperation mechanisms will be established.
The Chinese Ambassador noted, “Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital and the John F. Kennedy Medical Center’s established cooperation mechanism is one of the implementation initiatives.
“As one of the important contents of the cooperation mechanism, the two sides launched the ‘Cardiology Construction Cooperation Project’, which aims to help Liberia build an independent cardiology team with 12 beds, 4 cardiologists and 4 nurses through cooperation and assistance such as medical equipment and medicine donation, clinical guidance by experts, remote training and training in Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital.
“As a result, the project achieves the goal of reserving medical and nursing talents, and to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and the ability to rescue emergency and critical illnesses. The project period is from 2022 to 2025, and is processing successfully and fruitfully.”
According to him, “Among others is today’s donation of a total of $100,000 medical materials to JFK Medical Center and the cardiology program. The initiative, alongside other on-going projects in the health sector, is a testament to the substantive and ever-expanding China-Liberia medical cooperation.
“China remains firmly committed to supporting Liberia’s healthcare development through diverse means. We stand ready to join hands with Liberians to build a shared future of health and well-being for all.”