Seminar on Priority Infectious Disease Prevention and Control and International Cooperation Successfully Held in Sierra Leone

On 14 November 2025, the Seminar on Priority Infectious Disease Prevention and Control and International Cooperation, jointly organised by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), the Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone and the National Public Health Agency of Sierra Leone, was successfully held in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. Experts and scholars from the health authorities of the two countries and from international organisations such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention took part in the event. The seminar was co chaired by Shen Haimo, head of the China CDC expert team in Sierra Leone, and Dr Vandi, Deputy Director of the National Public Health Agency of Sierra Leone.

In his opening remarks, Zhang Guoxin, Secretary of the CPC Committee of China CDC, reviewed the results achieved by China and Sierra Leone over more than ten years in areas such as pathogen detection and laboratory capacity building. He said that China CDC would further strengthen cooperation with Sierra Leone and with international organisations, and would work to turn research and technical collaboration into tangible public health outcomes. Wang Peng, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, stated that the Chinese Government attaches great importance to the health partnership between China and Sierra Leone. He noted that China would uphold the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and would continue to deepen both bilateral and multilateral cooperation. In their remarks, the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone and the Director of the National Public Health Agency highly commended China’s support for laboratory capacity building, and expressed the hope of further strengthening exchanges with the Chinese side and expanding areas of cooperation.

The seminar focused on strategies for the prevention and control of key infectious diseases such as malaria, Lassa fever and HIV/AIDS. Experts from both sides shared practical experience on topics including disease surveillance and the development of laboratory networks. In a thematic discussion on future directions for cooperation, participants reached a number of shared understandings on issues such as the sustainable development of laboratory systems and the training of professional personnel.

The seminar gave fresh impetus to public health cooperation between China and Sierra Leone and in the wider region. All parties agreed to take this event as an opportunity to help move regional public health systems to a higher level.

Zhang Guoxin delivering remarks at the seminar[Photo/chinacdc.cn]

Group photo of all participants[Photo/chinacdc.cn]