By Edward Marah
Libraries, it is believed offer knowledge, and entertainment through books and videos, children’s programming, access to the internet, tutoring services, materials for lifelong learning, and countless other resources that would otherwise be difficult to find or afford.
The Sierra Leone Library Board as part of its commitment in reaching out with relevant information, education and entertainment to the public has in collaboration with the Chanise Embassy in Sierra Leone opened the picture exhibition of the 60th Anniversary of China dispatching its first medical team and the 50th anniversary of China dispatching medical team to Sierra Leone at the Sierra Leone Library Board headquarters, Rokel Street in Freetown.
The Chief Librarian of the Sierra Leone Library Board, Mr Musa Bala Mansaray while welcoming guests, revealed that the essence of hosting the event at the Library Board is to showcase the work and achievement of the Chinese medical team to the people of Sierra Leone.
He noted that as a public Library, information sharing to the public will enhance public knowledge and education on what China is doing in Sierra Leone and contributing to the development of the country.
Mr. Mansaray pointed out that with such exhibition, generations after generations will learn from the contribution of China to the health sector.
Minister of Health and Sanitation, Austin Demby described China as Sierra Leone’s diplomatic dependable partner that has been supporting not only education and agriculture but also health sector in the country.
He recalled that when Sierra Leone had the outbreak of Ebola and while others were leaving the country, it was China that first came to the aid of Sierra Leone by sending a medical team and equipment to help fight the disease which they did again in 2020 when we had the Corona virus, the minister said.
He appealed to the Government and People Republic of China to continue the support, particularly in the area of health, education, agriculture among others, adding that the Government of Sierra Leone has created a platform of investing in health care delivery for the country.
The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, HE Wang Qing said the exhibition is to highlight the work of the Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone over the years and to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries, adding that both countries continue to enjoy a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
It could be recalled that on July 29th 1971, Sierra Leone and China signed a Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations where China agreed to support categorically the Government and people of Sierra Leone in its struggles against imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism, in its efforts to safeguard national independence and sovereignty. In the meantime, the Government of Sierra Leone recognized that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Both governments agreed to develop diplomatic relations and friendly cooperation on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, of mutual non-aggression and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and of equality and mutually beneficial peaceful co-existence.
Since then, both countries have stood by each other.
Sierra Leone was the country first to support China candidacy to the United Nations General Assembly which today stands a historic milestone. Sierra Leone has also witnessed and benefited a notable results of cooperation from China, including: the construction of the Youyi Building, the National Stadium, Mange Bridge, the Magbass Sugar complex, and the RSLAF headquarters in the 1970s and 80s; the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Road, Bo Stadium, Jui Hospital, the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Primary and Middle Schools, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office Building from the 1980 to 2000; the second Juba Bridge, the Limkokwing-Regent Road, Myohaung Officers’ Mess and Single Officers’ Quarters, the National Optical Fiber Backbone Network Phase Two, as well as the Foreign Service Academy among others.
China bilateral trade volume has now reached over 500 million US Dollars, and the accumulated direct investment from China to Sierra Leone has reached 3 billion US Dollars. Since 1973, the Chinese government has dispatched more than 500 Chinese medical personnel to Sierra Leone under the health assistance programme, and since 1976, China has provided government scholarships for over 1000 Sierra Leonean students to study in China. China has also dispatched about 100 agricultural experts to Sierra Leone since 1991 to provide technical training.