Shan Xiangqian (L, front), Party Chief of Anhui Provincial Health Commission and South Sudan's Health Minister Riek Gai Kok(R, front) signed a health cooperation agreement in Juba, capital of South Sudan, Nov. 8, 2019. (Xinhua/Julius Gale)
Chinese-aided health infrastructure project in South Sudan will improve health service delivery and the China medical team has been providing free medical services and training local doctors in the country since 2013, the head of South Sudan's largest health facility says.
JUBA, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese-aided health infrastructure project in South Sudan will improve health service delivery, the head of the country's largest health facility said on Wednesday.
Isaac Cleto, Director of Juba Teaching Hospital, the country's main referral hospital told Xinhua in a recent interview that the 33 million U.S. dollar China-funded project for the modernization and expansion of health facilities will contribute greatly to the country's health sector.
Cleto said phase one of the project, which includes the construction of modern emergency and gynecology wards is completed and is set to be completed in the near future.
"To have better health services. You have two pillars, infrastructure and human resources," Cleto said.
"These new buildings with new equipment, if inaugurated ---for the first time in our history, it is going to positively impact our patients," he added.
The photo shows the main outpatient ward at the Juba Teaching Hospital recently constructed by China Railway Construction Engineering Group(CRCEG) in Juba, capital of South Sudan, Nov. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Denis Elamu)
Since gaining independence from Sudan in July 2011, Beijing has provided material and technical support to Juba to help the world's youngest republic deal with health-related challenges.
A visiting delegation from China's Anhui Province last week signed cooperation agreements with South Sudan's ministry of health and a local university aimed at strengthening health cooperation in areas that advance health and well-being of communities.
Cleto also hailed the contribution of the China medical team, which has been providing free medical and capacity building services in the east African country since 2013.
"For the last five, six years, we have been cooperating with the Chinese doctors, they have been giving us medical and training services," Cleto said.
"What is good about this cooperation is not just about treating patients, they are treating and training our staff on job. They train our doctors and teach in our schools. They will leave a lot of skills down here," said Cleto. ■
