China boosts South Sudan health initiative

The Chinese government on Wednesday donated medical supplies worth 3 million U.S. dollars to South Sudan as part of humanitarian support to ease health services in the war-torn young nation.

Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Ma Qiang said the 24-container load include medical equipment and instrument, supplies and consumables, uniforms and shoes, blankets and mosquito nets, bicycles and torches, rain coats and boots, loudspeakers and mobile phones and rack sacks.

"The items will be used to implement the 'Boma Health Initiative' which focuses on the urgent needs of medical services at the most primary level of the population," Ma told journalists in Juba.

"We hope the Chinese donation has arrived in a right time and South Sudanese side would make good use of it to benefit the people without any delay or waste," he added.

Since the independence of South Sudan, Beijing has been working very closely with Juba to support the reconstruction efforts and improvement of livelihood of the young nation.

The Chinese envoy said the bilateral ties had successfully withstood the test of the civil conflict of the world's newest nation, which broke out on December 15, 2013.

He reiterated that the contribution of Beijing in the peace process, the humanitarian assistance and development cooperation of oil production in particular, has won great appreciation of Juba government and its people.

Ma noted that health sector was among the top priorities of the Chinese assistance to South Sudan, noting that efforts are in place to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Cabinet Affairs Minister, Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro lauded the Chinese government for being very supportive to people of South Sudan since her secession from Sudan in 2011.

"Experience that I had over the less 10 years shows me that countries which talks too much about being partners deliver less, and countries that don't talk too much deliver more like China," Lomoro said.

Health Minister Dr. Riak Gai Kok lauded Beijing's contribution towards helping the young nation with medical supplies.

"90 percent of our population is living in rural areas and they do not access health services. We struggle here in capital Juba, if somebody falls sick in the village, one has to go to Juba but this time we are going to be with them at the village," Kok said.

The minister said through the Chinese support, South Sudan will now work towards achieving sustainable development goal and vowed the government's commitment to deliver health services at grass-root level to save more life in the country. Endit