China-donated COVID-19 vaccines, detection reagents arrive in Sierra Leone

A shipment of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines and detection reagents arrived in Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone, on Aug 18. 

The handover ceremony was attended by Sierra Leonean Minister of Health and Sanitation Austin Demby, Director of Sierra Leonean National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre Sheku F. Bangura, and the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Hu Zhangliang.

On behalf of Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, the government and people of the country, Demby and Bangura expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese government and people for their valuable assistance, saying the support shows China's spirit and responsibility as a big country. 

Demby said China has long given strong support and assistance to Sierra Leone in the fields of health care, education, agriculture and infrastructure, and always lends a helping hand when Sierra Leone is in difficult times. 

In the current struggle against the pandemic, China has become the most reliable and strong backing for the Sierra Leonean government and people to rely on, Demby said.

Bangura said China has responded positively to the request of Sierra Leone to provide emergency anti-pandemic assistance, boosting global anti-pandemic cooperation with practical action.

Hu said China and Sierra Leone are good friends and partners, and China felt the urgent needs of Sierra Leone and overcame difficulties to once again provide the COVID-19 vaccine, testing reagents and other anti-pandemic material assistance to Sierra Leone. He added this was a concrete embodiment of China's active implementation of its solemn commitment to the international community, and is another important initiative of China-Sierra Leone anti-pandemic cooperation, vividly reflecting the traditional friendship between China and Sierra Leone.