China donates medicines to Uganda's friendship hospital

Zheng Zhuqiang (2nd L), Chinese Ambassador to Uganda hands over medicines and medical supplies to Jane Ruth Aceng (2nd R), Ugandan Minister of Health during a donation ceremony at China-Uganda Friendship Hospital in Naguru, Kampala, Uganda, Aug. 9, 2018. China on Thursday donated medicines and medical supplies to China-Uganda Friendship Hospital in the Ugandan capital Kampala. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping)

KAMPALA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China donated medicines and medical supplies to China-Uganda Friendship Hospital in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

Zheng Zhuqiang, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, on Thursday handed over the medicines and supplies worth 70,000 U.S. dollars to Ruth Aceng, Ugandan minister of health.

"I believe that this batch of materials will effectively improve the current shortage of medicine for the hospital," he said.

Zheng said public health cooperation is an important part of the ten major China-Africa cooperation plans as announced during the 2015 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He said apart from the annual donation of medicines and supplies, China has since 1983 been sending medical teams to Uganda.

Aceng said the donation will go a long way in improving the patient care at the 100-bed hospital, which was also donated by the Chinese government.

Aceng said government is in the process of making final preparations to kick start the renovation and expansion of the hospital.

She said the hospital in future will be changed into a trauma and orthopedics center.