AU welcomes plans by China to build hospital in Liberia

The African Union (AU) has welcomed plans by China to build a hospital in Liberia.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of AU Commission, has welcomed the announcement by China that it will build a 100-bed medical center in Liberia, said AU in a statement on Monday.

This will add to the Ebola treatment infrastructure already being put in place by the US, France, Britain and other donor countries in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, addressing the much needed bed-shortage identified as a key constraint in halting and reversing the trajectory of the epidemic, said the statement.

The latest announcement follows other contributions made by China to the Ebola efforts in Africa, including donating medical equipment and personal protective equipment (PPEs), the deployment of Chinese medical personnel and aid personnel, providing food assistance and financial donations to the three affected countries, it said.

This is in addition to the financial contribution of 2 million US dollars China has already made to AU Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa mission (ASEOWA) and other support given to the World Health Organization and to the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER).

Dlamini-Zuma emphasized the importance of all efforts to stop this public health emergency, and to build the resilience of the health services in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, including leaving the three countries with a lasting legacy of permanent health infrastructure, which can be used post the Ebola crisis.