Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital launched

The Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital was launched here this week as a new fruit in bilateral ties hailed by officials of both countries.

The 100-bed ultra-modern hospital constructed by China was officially launched by President Ernest Bai Koroma on Monday in Jui, Western Rural District in the presence of the Chinese ambassador to Sierra Leone, Kuang Weilin.

President Koroma described the project as "another milestone in my government's effort to bring world class health care and medical education to Sierra Leone."

The president said the commissioning of the hospital was evidence of the government's commitment to improving health care services and also a demonstration of the mutual benefit both countries had enjoyed through 40 years of friendship.

Koroma was happy to note that most of what the people of Sierra Leone "can see around as a solid infrastructure development has been as a result of support provided from our friends in China."

The Chinese ambassador said the name Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital was reminiscent of many achievements in their bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Kuang said over the past 40 years since China and Sierra Leone established diplomatic ties, the two countries had conducted fruitful cooperation in various fields to the mutual benefit of the peoples of both countries.

The hospital is equipped with various modern medical facilities such as a type B ultra-sound scan, CT scanner, X-ray and a set of full range of biochemical testing medical gadgets.

It also houses the departments of internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, ear, nose and throat, as well as ophthalmology.

Both sides have agreed that China's Shandong Qushan Hospital and Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health will co-manage the hospital and strive to make it a center of excellence.