|
The unveiling ceremony of the malaria prevention and treatment centre donated by the Chinese government to Tanzania was held here on Monday with the purpose to help Tanzania improve the research and training level of malaria prevention and treatment in the east African country.
Addressing the ceremony, Deo Mtasiwa, Chief Medical Officer of the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare first reviewed the traditional friendship between his country and China, expressing appreciation to the aid provided to Tanzania by China in various sectors, including health care.
"The malaria prevention and treatment centre will directly benefit the Tanzanian malaria patients, improve the level of malaria prevention and treatment in this country, and promote the connectivity between clinic and research," Mtasiwa said.
He noted that his country was glad to be the place of one of the 30 malaria prevention and treatment centers, which was promised by the Chinese government in 2006 to establish in African countries, adding that "we will take care of the equipment and make good use of them in strengthening research and training".
He also expressed Tanzania's intention to enhance cooperation with China in the field of malaria prevention and treatment with tradition medicine as his country is rich in these resources.
For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Liu Xinsheng said that the Chinese government and people would like to join the Tanzanians in the campaign of malaria prevention and treatment and share the triumph at last.
"With the equipment and medicine donated by the Chinese government, I am convinced that a large number of people will obtain good medication treatment here. This malaria prevention and treatment centre project should be a long-term program as well, " the Chinese ambassador said, adding that China will continue to provide necessary aid and to dispatch a team of anti-malaria experts here annually to advance instructions and advices in the following two years after the handover of the centre.
Liu also reviewed the friendly cooperation in health sector between the two countries since the 1960s, which has been strengthened in recent years and not only benefits the Tanzanian people, but also creates an opportunity for both sides to learn from each other and develop together.
To establish 30 malaria prevention and treatment centers is one of the eight measures announced at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit in November 2006 in order to promote bilateral cooperation.
Tanzania is a highly malaria-infested country. About 100,000 Tanzanians die of the disease and an average of 3.4 percent GDP is lost for it every year.
|
