JUBA, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- China and South Sudan on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will see Beijing continue to deploy medical teams to the east African nation for another five years.
The MOU, signed by the health ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Juba, runs from 2021 to 2026 and seeks to boost cooperation between China's Anhui Medical University and South Sudan's main referral hospital, the Juba Teaching Hospital through knowledge sharing and capacity building.
Mayen Achiek Machut, South Sudan's undersecretary of the ministry of health said the extension of the health cooperation signals strong relations between the two countries.
"Having this agreement is a reminder that we are having a durable cooperation and friendship with the People's Republic of China and our counterparts in the medical team," Machut said.
China has sent eight medical teams to South Sudan since 2013, and the medics are tasked with providing free medical services across the world's youngest nation.
Machut appreciated the Chinese doctors for offering health services to the people of South Sudan, adding that China has contributed tremendously to the development of South Sudan's health sector.
"You have always been there for us and we are here to say thank you and celebrate our cooperation by renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding on health cooperation," Machut said. "We are going to continue working together."
Meanwhile, the eighth batch of the China medical team in South Sudan on Friday also donated medical equipment to the Juba Teaching Hospital to help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation consisted of five ventilator machines and its accessories.
Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan said the latest donation is the sixth anti-COVID-19 aid provided by the Chinese government to South Sudan.
"We hope that the new donation will consolidate and further boost South Sudan's capacity to fight against the pandemic (COVID)," Hua said.
Hua said China is committed to helping South Sudan overcome the challenges facing its health sector.
"We always put health care as a top priority of South Sudan-China cooperation because it involves the fundamental interests and benefits of the South Sudanese people," he said.
"We also hope that with support from China and other members of the international community, the health sector here will continue to develop and benefit the South Sudanese people," the Chinese envoy said. Enditem
