China-aided Emergency Humanitarian Anti-Ebola Medical Materials Airlifted to Sierra Leone

2014/08/14 On the afternoon of August 11, a Boeing 747 airplane carrying China-aided emergency humanitarian anti-Ebola medical materials arrived at Lungi International Airport. Chinese Ambassador Zhao Yanbo, Minister of Transport and Aviation Mr. Leonard Koroma, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Ebun Adebola Strasser-King, Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Abubakarr Fofanah and other senior Sierra Leonean officials attended the hand-over ceremony held at the airport. Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Awoko Newspaper and other media organizations reported the event.

 Ambassador Zhao stated that in order to help Sierra Leone contain Ebola and in response to the appeal of the Sierra Leonean government, the Chinese government has decided to provide another batch of emergency humanitarian anti-Ebola medical materials valued at RMB 10 million Yuan (equally 1.63 million USD) to Sierra Leone. Considering the emergent situation in the country, the Chinese government chartered a cargo airplane carrying the materials to Sierra Leone. 

What the plane has carried here are not only aid materials, but also the friendly sentiments, the concrete support and the heartfelt encouragement from the Chinese government and people. Ambassador Zhao concluded by announcing that a 3-member Chinese medical expert team from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention will be in Sierra Leone soon to provide training on the use of China-aided medical materials.

Deputy Foreign Minister Strasser-King and Deputy Health Minister Fofanah highly commended the timely and much-needed medical aid provided by China when Ebola is spreading in Sierra Leone, resulting in heavy casualties. They expressed their appreciations to China for sending a medical expert team to Sierra Leone, and stated that Sierra Leone and China always stood together in overcoming common challenges. 

Despite the strong earthquake happened in Ludian County, Yunan Province, China didn’t forget Sierra Leone. China’s support once again demonstrated that Sierra Leone and China are good brothers, friends, and partners. They emphasized that Sierra Leone will make full use of this batch of medical materials and strengthen Sierra Leone's endeavor in fighting against Ebola so as to win the battle against it at an early date.

This batch of medical materials mainly includes personal protective equipments, disinfectants, stretchers, thermometers, patient monitors, sprays and medicines. It is the second batch of emergency humanitarian anti-Ebola medical materials provided by China. In late April, the Chinese Government provided the first batch of medical materials valued at RMB 1 million Yuan (equally 163,000 USD) to support Sierra Leone in the prevention of Ebola.