China Africa health cooperation based on mutual respect (2)

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BUILDING CAPACITY FOR SELF RELIANCE

African ministers repeatedly expressed hopes that China can help them build capacity so that their health systems can improve sustainably.

Dr. Rugunda said China already embarked on this work. "Chinese medical teams send different specialists to different African countries, they help train nurses, doctors, and health workers specialized in those fields," he deemed training essential to capacity building.

China donated a hospital to Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, called Naguru Friendship Hospital, according to him. The hospital is staffed by both Chinese and local doctors, and Chinese doctors, apart from treating patients, also serve as tutors.

"Chinese doctors speak fairly good English, enough for treating patients, and enough for training, " he said.

Osman expressed hopes that Djibouti can learn more technologies and experiences from China so as to take charge of their own people's needs in the future.

Building capacity is also the direction China mapped out for future medical aid to Africa.

Li Bin, head of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), lately said China will help aid target countries with medical education, as well as transfer both regular and high-end medical technology to them.

Moreover, the capacity of drug manufacturing is also urgently needed by African countries.

Kondi Charles AGBA, the health minister of Togo, said "We hope China can help us manufacture vaccines. Only by being able to produce vaccines ourselves, can we lower the cost of immunization." Right now, the country's vaccines are donated by GAVI Alliance.

When meeting with African health officials, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said China will continue to send medical teams and cataract surgeons to Africa and will deepen cooperation and health personnel training in maternal and child health care.

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