By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a significant step towards fostering mutual learning and international cooperation, the 24th Batch of the China Medical Team to Sierra Leone conducted specialized training for six batches of 25 local medical staff at the Hunan Children’s Hospital in China from August to December 2023. The initiative, part of China’s commitment to the Republic of Sierra Leone, covered essential medical areas such as pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, anesthesia, nursing, and infection control.
The reception party for Sierra Leone Trainees, which took place on Tuesday, January 16, 2023, at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, served as a platform for Captain Chen Yongjun, Leader of the 24th China Medical Team, to express the team’s pride and commitment to the enhancement of education and training in China’s foreign aid program.
Captain Chen emphasized the program’s success in improving professional abilities, broadening horizons, and fostering a valuable platform for future international cooperation and academic exchange.
He revealed that during their one-year mission in Sierra Leone in 2023, the team is proud to have facilitated specialized training for six batches of 25 local medical staff of the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital at Hunan Children’s Hospital in China, adding that the comprehensive training covered pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, anesthesia, nursing, and infection control through lectures, demonstrations, simulations, and hands-on practice.
He noted that the positive feedback from trainees underscored the program’s success in not only improving professional abilities but also broadening horizons, emphasizing the enriching experience gained from exposure to advanced equipment, facilities, and management practices at the Chinese hospital, along with the warm hospitality extended by the Chinese people.
Captain Chen highlighted the training’s value as a platform for mutual learning, fostering future international cooperation and academic exchange. Expressing pride in the team’s accomplishments, he thanked the Governments, health authorities, and the Hunan Children’s Hospital for their unwavering support.
Looking forward, Captain Chen pledged the team’s commitment to working even harder, promising more projects and activities in the realm of medical education and training. The focus remains on providing continued support to the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital and contributing to the overall development of Sierra Leone’s health sector.
In closing, Captain Chen conveyed his best wishes for good health, peace, and positivity to all attendees, expressing gratitude for the collaborative efforts that have strengthened the bonds of friendship and cooperation between China and Sierra Leone.
In his statement, Liu Siyu, the Second Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, expressed gratitude for the invitation to the event and emphasized the enduring friendship between China and Sierra Leone, spanning over 52 years. Notably, the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital stands as a testament to this enduring relationship. Over the past half-century, China has consistently supported the health and well-being of the people of Sierra Leone by dispatching 24 medical teams to the country.
The Second Secretary underscored China’s commitment to continue assisting Sierra Leone in medical, health, and sanitation endeavors. He highlighted the pivotal role of health and medicine as a focal point of cooperation between the two nations.
In 2023, the Chinese medical team commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Chinese-Aid-Sierra Medical Team with a photo exhibition. President Bio graciously received members of the 24th Medical Aid Team, the 7th Military Medical-aid Team, and the 8th Group of Experts in the Fixed Bio-Safety Laboratory in Sierra Leone.
Liu Siyu commended the compassionate and public-serving nature of the hospital staff, expressing appreciation for their grateful hearts. He highlighted the collaborative efforts with the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, which organized six batches of 25 local Sierra Leonean medical staff for short-term expertise training at Hunan Provincial Children’s Hospital in China.
The training covered critical pediatric illnesses, neonatal care, maternal and child health, testing techniques, infectious disease prevention, and hospital management. Liu Siyu emphasized the importance of such training in the professional development of the participants.
Concluding his statement, Liu Siyu affirmed the continuation of long-term friendly cooperation and academic exchanges with Sierra Leone on medical and health matters. He announced the upcoming establishment of the Phase IV virus testing laboratory with the support of the Sierra Leonean Government.
China pledged to sustain cooperation with the Government of Sierra Leone and medical institutions in various health projects to bolster the development of the health sector in Sierra Leone.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Medical Superintendent, Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, Dr. Sarah Conteh, expressed appreciation to the 24th Batch of the China Medical Team to Sierra Leone facilitated specialized training for six batches of 25 local medical staff of the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital at the Hunan Children’s Hospital in China in August to December, 2023.
Dr. Sarah Conteh maintained that since their return and the implementation of the knowledge and skills they acquired has created improvements in terms of their patients’ care at the hospital.
She stated that 25 local medical staff who benefited from the specialized training are currently transferring the knowledge and skills to other local medical staff who were not fortunate to benefit from the training in China which she said will help to improve the general patient care at the hospital.
