China donates $1.8 mln to fight cholera, malaria in South Sudan

The Chinese government has donated a combined sum of 1.8 million U.S. dollars to South Sudan's ministry of health to fight cholera and malaria in the war-torn East African country.

The Chinese Embassy in South Sudan on Saturday handed over a check of 1 million dollars for cholera response, donated anti-malarial drugs worth 800,000 dollars and also donated one ambulance to the country's biggest referral hospital.

The South Sudanese government also launched a Chinese-aided project worth 33 million dollars for the modernization and expansion of the country's main referral hospital, the Juba Teaching Hospital, and renovation of the China-funded Kiir Mayardit Women's Hospital in the South Sudanese town of Rumbek.

Health Minister Riek Gai Kok said the donation is a generous addition to the 600 bicycles and communication gadgets provided by the Chinese government to support health in the grassroot level.

"We thank you for the kind donation that will help us a lot in strengthening our capacity to respond to diseases," said Kok.

Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan He Xiangdong said Beijing is committed to helping Juba improve its public health sector by providing capacity building and financial contributions.

"This is a gift from the Chinese people to our brothers and sisters in South Sudan because we are trying to help them improve the public health sector," the Chinese envoy said.

Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, China has contributed diplomatic and material support to South Sudan.

Early this year, China and South Sudan agreed to boost cooperation in the health sector by enhancing knowledge sharing, capacity building, and hospital to hospital collaborations.

Beijing has been sending 15 medical specialists annually to various hospitals across South Sudan to provide free medical services.

"We are very proud of having this partnership with China and we urge the two governments to deepen this relationship for the generations to come because health is the pillar for development," said South Sudan's Finance Minister Stephen Dhuie Dau.