Sierra Leone's president lauds Chinese efforts in Ebola fight

FREETOWN -- The President of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma commended the Chinese government for its continued support and commitment to the ongoing fight against the spreading Ebola virus disease (EVD) on Tuesday.

Koroma made the remarks during a meeting with a Chinese senior representative for Ebola fight, Xu Shuqiang at the State House.

President Koroma described the appointment of Xu Shuqiang as a significant addition to the intervention of China and applauded the Chinese government for treating Sierra Leone as a special friend. He stated that the Chinese government had made four interventions in terms of equipment, funds, laboratory capacity and personnel that had come very handy in the fight to eradicate Ebola.

He stated that the rapid Ebola test kits will increase laboratory capacity and equally cut down the waiting time that would help the country to move ahead of the virus.

Meanwhile, the president said the training of 4,000 personnel will not only boost the fight against Ebola, but also help to strengthen the health sector in addressing Ebola and non-Ebola related issues as the country moves on after the outbreak. "This is a welcomed development as it will help to strengthen the capacity of our health personnel," he said.

President Koroma also noted that such interventions would go a long way in capacitating the country to adequately respond to any future outbreaks of not just Ebola but other communicable diseases.

He welcomed the idea of the establishment of a communicable disease center that will provide teaching services and response capacity to ensure the dissemination of the required service across the country, and urged the Minister of Health and Sanitation to look at the need for a supplementary protocol to include treatment as suggested by Xu.