1. Highlights
- The unprecedented outbreak of Ebola requires concerted efforts worldwide. Since Ebola broke out in West Africa in spring 2014, China has been supporting the affected countries in the fight against Ebola. China has also actively engaged in the global Ebola response led by UN and WHO for better coordination.
- 1st batch of PPEs and medical materials for prevention, control and treatment from China arrived in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau in May. .
- 2nd batch of assistance provided in early August were urgently needed supplies, such as PPEs, disinfectants, thermometer and drugs. Accompanied were Chinese clinical and public health experts to guide local prevention and control measures.
- 3rd batch of assistance were provided in September, including medical supplies, food, medical expert groups, biological laboratory and financial support to African countries; and voluntary contribution of $ 2 million to AU and WHO respectively.
- President Xi Jinping announced in Oct the 4th batch of assistance with a total value of RMB 500 million ($ 83 million) covering 6 areas: capacity building and social mobilization through sending trainers and experts; providing materials like beds, ambulances, PPEs, incinerators to improve local ability in patient treatment and transferring, medical waste management and disinfection; building a treatment center for Liberia and dispatching 160 doctors and nurses for its operation; donating $ 6 million to UN Multilateral Trust Fund for Fighting against Ebola; initiating a long-term health cooperation program with Africa; strengthening cooperation with international community, taking part in GERC regular meetings and nominating senior advisor to serve in UNMEER. These measures are being duly implemented.
2. Supporting 4 Main Activities of UNMEER
Case Management: Holding and treatment centers built and operated in Sierra Leone and Liberia
Case Finding, Contact Tracing: Lab screening and observation conducted in Sierra Leone
Safe and Dignified Burials: PPEs, body bags and other necessary materials provided to affected countries
Social Mobilization: Community health workers trained as trainers of Ebola prevention and control in affected countries
3. Timeline for China in 2014
April-May, 1st batch of assistance arrived in West Africa.
Aug 7, 2nd batch of assistance commenced.
Aug 8, WHO announced the Ebola outbreak in West Africa a PHEIC.
Aug 11, 1st public health expert group arrived in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Aug 16, more clinical and public health experts to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone were dispatched.
Sept 12, 3rd batch of assistance commenced.
Sept 16, a mobile laboratory test group with 59 experts to Sierra Leone was dispatched.
Sept 24, a mobile P3 laboratory arrived in Sierra Leone.
Sept 26, Ebola test and holding center in Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital opened.
Oct 24, 4th batch of assistance commenced
Nov 9, 1st public health training expert group was dispatched to Sierra Leone.
Nov 14, Dr. FENG Zijian, DDG of China CDC was dispatched to Liberia as Senior Adviser to UNMEER
Nov 25, Ms. CUI Li, Vice Minister of NHFPC witnessed the opening of Ebola treatment center built by China in Liberia.
Dec, China dispatched more public health training expert groups to Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Benin, Liberia, Senegal, Ghana and Togo.
4. Next Step
(1) To train 10,000 clinical staff and community workers in West African countries; to send another 1,000 Chinese medical and public health professionals to join the fight against Ebola in West Africa.
(2) To initiate a China-Africa long-term cooperation program on public health, including holding 12 public health and emergency response seminars for affected countries, AU and ECOWAS member states in 2015; participating in the establishment of African Union Center for Disease Control and Prevention; carrying out China-Africa joint research on prevention and control of infectious diseases; and helping Africa to strengthen public health system.