Tuesday, 25th November 2014
Monrovia, Liberia - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, has extended heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for the partnership and friendship and looks forward to the service that will be rendered by the team at the newly opened 100-bed Chinese Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU).
“All of this could not have been done except with the endorsement and support of the Chinese Government led by the President, H.E. Xi Jinping who gave full endorsement through the Ambassador and his staff,” the Liberian leader emphasized. She requested Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Zhang Yue, to convey to President Xi Jinping and the Premier Li Kequiang thanks and appreciation on behalf of the Liberian people.
According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader made the statement when she participated in a program marking the official opening of a 100-bed ETU built and will be operated by a medical contingent of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The ETU is situated at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville.
President Sirleaf recalled the difficult days of July, August and September when Liberia was confronted with this unknown enemy, the Ebola virus disease, where some of the brave doctors and nurses without proper equipment that tried to respond ended up dying, while others got infected, and most abandoned the health facilities which meant that while there were hundreds dying of Ebola, there were also many others dying of other causes because there was no means to treat them.
She recounted how she appealed to partners and one of the first to respond was China which immediately sent an aircraft with an assortment of anti-Ebola equipment, materials and drugs that enabled healthcare workers to respond; particularly making the point that China set the example that encouraged other partners to join in the response.
As China has joined others in sending a team to construct an ETU to enable Liberians have a place to take the sick and infected, the Liberian leader described the newly constructed ETU as “exemplary” and commended China for this exceptional response. “As I look at the quality of the construction and the quality service that will be rendered, this looks like first class treatment for our people,” President Sirleaf said, adding, “This is something commendable and exemplary which we will always be grateful for.”
She also commended medical contingent of the PLA for their diligence and their hard work in being able to construct these facilities.
President Sirleaf said, she was looking forward to bilateral discussions later in the afternoon centered around greater partnership; adding, “one that goes beyond this particular response; rather, one that talks about our partnership in education, health, agriculture, and the private sector.”
She hoped that the talks will be able to reflect not only on all the things both countries have accomplished, but the potential of what additional cooperation and partnership can be done together. President Sirleaf named moving from Ebola treatment to restoring the overall healthcare system and economic recovery to ensure that Liberia will be able to prevent any possible recurrence of this deadly disease. “We appreciate the partnership we enjoy in the United Nations. We appreciate what you do with the UN specialized agencies that add to what you are doing bilaterally,” she stressed.
Speaking earlier, the head of the Chinese delegation, Vice Minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the PRC, Cui Li said the ETU built and staffed entirely by Chinese will be run and managed independently, which is unprecedented both in the international aid to fight Ebola and China’s medical aid history.
But Ms. Li said the ETU mirrors the long-lasting friendship between China and Africa, which have shared the weal and woes over the past 50 years, and also represents the implementation of China’s Africa policy of “Sincerity, Real Results, Affinity and Good Faith,” proposed by President Xi Jinping.
In the preparation and building of the Center, Vice Minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the PRC said the Chinese Government sticks to the principle of “handle special cases with special methods when it comes to aiding Liberia’s fight” and fully respects the Liberian Government’s will and participation in the process.
For his part, the deputy head of the Chinese delegation, Director-General of Health Department, General Logistics Department of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Ren Guoquan said the opening of the Chinese ETU is the first international humanitarian relief project that was constructed, and will be operated and managed by the Chinese PLA.
He said the inauguration of the Chinese ETU is significant for promoting Liberia’s capability to fight the Ebola disease, safeguarding Liberian people’s lives and health, and controlling the global spread of the Ebola epidemic. “Together with the Liberian people, we have the determination, confidence and ability to tide over the difficulties and defeat the epidemic,” he said, adding that this will be a new milepost and will open a new chapter for the relationship between China and Liberia.
After President Xi’s announcement of the fourth round of assistance to the worst affected countries fighting the Ebola epidemic, the Chinese Government took a week to transport the construction materials, medical equipment and 500 construction workers to Liberia.
As one of the best treatment centers in Liberia, the ETU is designed to meet high standards in the prevention and control of infectious diseases. With three batches of 500 medical staff, the ETU will run for six months to isolate suspected Ebola patients and treat confirmed patients including United Nations staff that might get infected with Ebola.