Chinese CDC Delegation, Including Academician Xu Jianguo, Participated in Seminar on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases and Technical Exchanges in Sierra Leone

From January 10 to 12, 2024, Center for Global Public Health of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) collaborated with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health to host a seminar on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and technical exchanges in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The seminar was attended by experts from China CDC including Academician Xu Jianguo, Chief Expert of Virology Dong Xiaoping, Director of the National Institute of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Kan Biao, and Researchers Ma Xuejun and Wang Huanyu from the National Institute of Viral Disease Control and Prevention.

 

The seminar, held on January 10, aimed at strengthening cooperation and communication between China and Sierra Leone in the domain of infectious disease control and prevention. It convened experts from China CDC, Sierra Leone Ministry of Health, Africa CDC, US CDC, WHO, FAO, and other international organizations. Charles Senesie, Acting Minister of Health for Sierra Leone, and Wang Qing, Chinese Ambassador, attended the seminar and delivered speeches. The seminar was chaired by Mohamed Alex Vandi, Executive Director of National Public Health Agency at Sierra Leone Ministry of Health. Experts presented on epidemiological research, laboratory research, and syndromic surveillance of key infectious diseases in Sierra Leone, and conducted in-depth discussions on enhancing public health laboratory testing capabilities, etiological research capabilities, and emergency response capabilities to combat infectious diseases in Sierra Leone.

 

On January 11, experts from China CDC and Africa CDC visited the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Biosafety Laboratory. This laboratory is the only public health laboratory among the 53 joint laboratories supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology under the Belt and Road Initiative. During the visit, experts learned about the laboratory's facilities, safety management, and talent development, engaged in friendly discussions with the laboratory staff, and proposed plans to promote the laboratory’s future integration into the laboratory network of Africa CDC.
On January 12, experts from China CDC had a discussion with the Chief Medical Officer of the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health. Both sides affirmed the collaboration between China and Sierra Leone in the laboratory field, especially during the Ebola and COVID-19 when China CDC provided  technical support and trainings to Sierra Leone. They also exchanged views on how to strengthen health cooperation between China and Sierra Leone and how to promote public health capacity-building in Sierra Leone.

 

Relying on China-Sierra Leone Public Health "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory Construction and important pathogen research project, led by Center for Global Public Health of China CDC, these exchange activities aim to provide data and technical support for infectious disease risk warning in Sierra Leone and China's participation in global infectious disease control and prevention, with the goal of supporting the high-quality development of the "Belt and Road" initiative. Closely focusing on global challenges and public health security, we conduct international technical assistance to foreign countries, contribute to public health capacity building, and provide more technological support to promote the establishment of a global human health community.