China backs Ethiopia’s anti-malaria efforts: ambassador

Addis Ababa, March 27, 2011 (Addis Ababa) - Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia Gu Xiaojie said his country would continue support to Ethiopia in its fight against malaria.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, the ambassador said China’s assistance to Ethiopia has played a vital role in improving Ethiopia’s medical treatment and scientific research on malaria.

He said the assistance would also help Ethiopia to attain MDGs targets. The ambassador said medical and health cooperation constitutes a major part of China-Ethiopia All-round Cooperative Partnership.

''Ethiopia is benefiting from the cooperation that includes exchanges of medical staff ,conducting trainings and workshops, establishment of hospitals and Malaria Prevention and Treatment Centers, donation of medicines and medical equipments.'' he said.

Accordingly, China-Ethiopia Malaria Prevention and Treatment Center established in 2008 in Adama town of Oromia State, he said.

Over the past 5 years, China has donated Artemether Injection, a kind of anti-malaria medicine, worth of six million RMB Yuan to Ethiopia, he said.

The ambassador said China will continue to render assistance to Ethiopia in providing anti-malaria medicines.

Sources indicate that 80% of around 400 million people in the world infected with malaria live in Sub-Sahara Africa. The direct economic loss brought by malaria to Africa reaches up to 12 billion US dollars annually.

Thus, the Chinese Government attaches great importance to the cooperation with African countries in the prevention and treatment of malaria.

China has been supporting Africa in fighting malaria for over 30 years and achieved tangible results, he said.

China's assistance to Africa in fighting malaria is contributing to the economic development and social progress to establish and improve preventive and emergency mechanisms in public health.

He said his government is willing to share its advanced scientific and technical results in fighting malaria and further enhance cooperation with Africa on prevention and treatment of malaria.

Some 30 Malaria Prevention and Treatment Centers sponsored by Chinese government have already been set up in African countries since 2006.

The Chinese government has pledged medical equipments and anti-malaria materials worth of 500 million RMB Yuan to hospitals and 30 Malaria Prevention and Treatment Centers established in Africa from 2010 to 2012.