China Red Cross supports fight against cholera in Ghana

Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Sun Baohong (2nd R) and President of the Ghana Red Cross Society Michael Agyekum Addo (2nd L) attend the handover ceremony in Accra, Ghana, on Sept 22, 2014. (Xinhua/Lin Xiaowei)

The Red Cross Society of China has provided $50,000 to the Ghana Red Cross Society to fight the cholera outbreak which has killed over 100 people in the country.

The cash-aid was handed over to officials of the Ghana Red Cross by the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Sun Baohong at a ceremony in Accra on Monday.

The Chinese Ambassador said the donation reflects the profound sentiments of sharing weal and woe between the two peoples and will add a new chapter to the annals of the China-Ghana friendship.

She said China will continue to support the medical and health cause of Ghana.

Sun announced that China will provide material aid valued over $800,000 to Ghana for Ebola preparation and response, hoping that West African countries will tide over the difficulty at an early date with the international community's support and help.

"We will strengthen the cooperation on curing heart disease and help improve the local doctors; cardiac surgery level," she said.

"I am confident that, under the joint efforts of our two sides, the bilateral health cooperation will be elevated to a new stage," she said.

The President of the Ghana Red Cross Society, Michael Agyekum Addo thanked the Chinese counterpart for the donation and pledged that the aid will be put to good use.

He said the Chinese and Ghana Red Cross Societies were partners for a long time and the former has been supporting Ghana in so many ways.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Kwesi Quartey also praised the Chinese government for its sensitivity and support to the problems occurring within the subregion.

"China has always stood by Ghana and Africa in general in all our problems and this is one more example of the solidarity that we receive from China." he said.

Since 2006, China has provided anti-malaria drugs to Ghana for seven consecutive years. Each year, China also provides a number of training opportunities to the medical staff in Ghana.