China CDC supports Sierra Leone in formulating hepatitis policy and strategy

Sierra Leone launched the country's first national viral hepatitis policy and strategy on Dec 8 local time, thanks to the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

 

Hepatitis is one of the major public health challenges facing the world. According to the WHO, nearly 100 million people worldwide develop hepatitis each year. Sierra Leone bears a heavy burden to end the disease, according to Charles Senessie, acting minister of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone.

 

At the launch ceremony, Senessie noted that the plan will greatly promote hepatitis prevention and control efforts in the country. He thanked the China CDC and the WHO for their support in mapping out the strategic plan.

 

Wang Qing, Chinese ambassador to Sierra Leone, reviewed the process of China's support for Sierra Leone, and congratulated both countries on the new progress in health cooperation. 

 

Wang said that Sino-Sierra Leone cooperation has effectively promoted the well-being of the Sierra Leonean people and the friendship between the two countries. He pledged that China will continue to deepen cooperation with Sierra Leone to jointly build a community of common health for mankind.

 

This plan will guide Sierra Leone in carrying out hepatitis prevention and control work in the coming years, and will play an important role in improving the health of the Sierra Leonean people and contributing to the WHO's global hepatitis strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030.