The Chinese seem to have found answer to the rampaging Ebola virus in West Africa.
It is to cut the transmission chain
To this end the Chinese Government airlifted on September 25, by special chartered plane, three mobile bio-safety Level III laboratories into Sierra Leone. A holding and treatment centre has also been established at Jui by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control.
Speaking at their commissioning Chinese Ambassador Zhao Yanbo said they thought it fit to establish mobile laboratories, holding and treatment centers as a critical move to put a stop to the transmission chain of the dreaded Ebola viral disease.
“The Ebola epidemic has been spreading and we believe it is critical to cut off the transmission chain, hence we thought it fit to bring mobile labs and establish treatment centers for early detection and treatment of Ebola patients,” he explained.
Re-iterating China’s continuous support for Sierra Leone in the fight against Ebola, he assured Sierra Leoneans that they would never stand alone: “We will stand by you to provide the needed support in the fight against Ebola,” he maintained.
He commended the Chinese medical team for a job well done and encouraged them to work hard and make due contribution to the China-Sierra Leone relationship, adding, “together we will win the fight against Ebola”.
While commissioning three mobile laboratories, one holding and treatment centres, President Ernest Bai Koroma on Friday was optimistic and hopeful that with such facilities Sierra Leone will soon put the issue of Ebola behind and forge ahead with other national development strides.
“This is a great moment in the relationship between China and Sierra Leone, with the former demonstrating a strong commitment to national issues in the latter. China has been here during normal times, contributing to various national developments.
“Since the outbreak of Ebola in Sierra Leone, China has made serious effort in fighting the disease. They have supported us both financially and materially in the fight against Ebola. They have also supported us indirectly through the World Health Organization and the African Union to fight against the Ebola disease”, President Koroma acknowledged.
The President was optimistic that the centers and labs would provide the country with the facilities needed to fight against Ebola, noting that they came at a time when needed most and that he believed the Chinese medical team would immediately go into action after the commissioning.
He thanked the Chinese government and its people, welcomed the medical team and the China Center for Disease Control, stating that through their tremendous assistance the Chinese government had proven that they are “a special friend” of Sierra Leone.
President Koroma encouraged the Sierra Leonean medical practitioners deployed at the centers to take advantage of the opportunity and build their capacities for the future.
“The Chinese will not be here forever. Make use of this opportunity to build your capacity and very soon Sierra Leone will be in position to export its medical personnel to other countries in need,” he said.
Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. BrimaKargbo, said the commissioning of the facilities bore testimony to the long standing relationship between China and Sierra Leone, and enthused that such would help cut down the transmission chain of the disease as well as provide adequate care for affected persons.
He disclosed that between the three affected countries (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone), Sierra Leone is recording a low fatality rate of less than 60% and that the labs, holding and treatment centers would further help in the reduction of the case fatality rate in the country.
He commended the Sierra Leone medical team in charge of the treatment centre at the Police Training School, Hastings, where he said twenty-six Ebola patients would soon be discharged.