2016年CRI African Countries Speak Highly of China's Efforts in Post-Ebola Era

Wang Yaoping, leading the Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone, has been working in the Ebola-affected 1 country for nearly a year.

He says during the most serious period, almost all hospitals in Sierra Leone became paralyzed. They had to concentrate on Ebola patients and were incapable 2 of treating patients suffering from other diseases.

So after the virus was brought under control, Wang Yaoping and his counterparts decided 3 to open up the Ebola center of the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital to all patients.

"First, we opened all clinical departments to the local people. Second, we made an application to the Chinese government for more medical workers. Now we can treat more diseases and offer the people of Sierra Leone the best treatment. Meanwhile, we attached more importance to the training of Sierra Leone medical workers to improve their skills and make them more capable of protecting themselves."

Many Sierra Leone medical workers have attended the training courses, Sondey is one of them.

"Because their knowledge affected us and they have been there for us, we want to thank them. Because now, it is really, really better. Because of the Chinese, because of their training and hard work, we can now see it is much better. We want to thank them for all they have done."

Economic recovery is the key in the post-Ebola period for all three Ebola-affected countries — Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. China has pledged its ongoing 4 support to all three West African countries.

Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, the Commissioner 5 for Social Affairs, African Union Commission, said the Ebola-affected countries need China's help.

"So this is actually what we need. Big partners like China, usually our traditional trade partners are needed to assist the counties. The African Union is pushing for debt relief for the three countries. We are moving towards that because it's really helpful if we remove some of their debt."

Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma also praised China for its help.

"They did not only provide support in the country, they also provided their support to us indirectly 6 through the WHO, the United Nations. These all supports have really created a big impact in the fight against Ebola. That's why I would say that the Chinese support to us in efforts to fight Ebola is very significant. Now they have also engaged in the recovery program and we appreciate that very much."

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visited Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea last August and exchanged ideas with authorities there on promoting bilateral 7 cooperation to help local economic development.

Before the World Health Organization declared the end of Ebola transmission, more than 28,600 confirmed, probable, and suspected Ebola cases were reported in the three countries, claiming 11,300 deaths.

Since the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa in 2014, China has provided prompt assistance and has been the first to implement 8 its promises of providing helps.

China sent over 1,000 experts and doctors on infectious diseases and trained altogether more than 10,000 local doctors since the outbreak, making great contributions to the elimination 9 of the virus.

For CRI, this is Xie Cheng.