Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention sends 5th medical expert team to Sierra Leone

The 5th Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) team arrived in Sierra Leone in mid-December of 2019 with the task of implementing the second technical assistance project of the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Fixed Biosafety Laboratory in Freetown. The team's efforts were later redirected to the control of COVID-19. In addition to conducting COVID-19 testing, they contributed to public policy strategizing related to the virus and organized professional trainings for over 60 public health workers in the cities of Freetown and Bo. The team had 11 members and was led by Dr. Wu Wei. On June 27, 2019, the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone commemorated the departure of the 4th CDC team with a China-Sierra Leone Public Health Cooperation Reception. Representing Sierra Leone at the ceremony were Vice President Juldeh Jalloh, Deputy Minister of Defense Simeon Sheriff, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Brima Sesay, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Nabeela Tunis, and Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health Amara Jambai. Representing China were Ambassador Hu Zhangliang, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone Zhang Xueqian, and all embassy staff. The current status of this project is uncertain; it is thought to still be in the implementation stages.

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