Chinese assistance to the west African state of Sierra Leone, since the West Africa Ebola outbreak has been highly acclaimed by health workers and the entire populace.
China was one of the first countries to respond to President Ernest Koroma’s call for assistance on the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in the country.
The Chinese contribution has been very instrumental because they came in not only in time but with no strings attached. Here are key dates in China’s anti-Ebola aid to Sierra Leone since the breakout in 2014.
In May, China sent the first batch of relief goods, mostly for disease prevention, control and treatment, to Sierra Leone valued at $161,000.
On Aug. 11, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent messages to president Ernest Bai Koroma to show sympathy over the deaths in the Ebola outbreak.
On Sept. 16, Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Zhao Yanbo said the Chinese government had dispatched another medical team of 59 experts and a mobile laboratory to the African country.
On Oct. 9, the Ministry of Commerce said China had made a deal with the UN World Food Program to provide 6 million dollars of food aid to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
On Dec. 20, a second group of 14 medical experts left for Sierra Leone to assist in the prevention and control of the Ebola virus and train local medical staff. On Feb. 13, 2015, China handed over a P3 level biolab to Sierra Leone as part of its continued contribution in fighting Ebola.
China has also been instrumental in providing post Ebola reconstruction assistance for Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
