China donated eight mobile clinics with a total value of almost US$2 million to the Philippines on Monday, in a bid to help the country to address problems of access to health services especially in the remote areas.

The mobile clinics, buses with a wide range of medical equipment, are expected to assist the Philippines to expand its capacity of health facilities to provide quality care, said Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao on the hand- over ceremony.

Liu congratulated the Philippine government for making " tremendous efforts in improving the medical care for the Philippine people in reaching the millennium goal," saying "China and the Chinese people are proud and honored to provide the eight mobile clinics ... for medical treatment for people in the countryside, in the rural areas."

"I'm very happy that China can do something for our Filipino friends," said Liu.

Enrique Ona, Secretary of Health, along with other officials of the Philippines as well as representatives from local medical institutions, witnessed the hand-over of the mobile clinics.

"This morning, therefore, marks a milestone in our current administration, as we have just accepted the donation of eight mobile clinics from our friends, the government of the People's Republic of China to the government of the Philippines," said Ona, "We sincerely ... appreciate this kind gesture of good will as a continuing testimony for the cordial relationship between our two countries."

The donation is "a very timely support" because the Philippines "is seeking major reforms in enhancing health facilities across the country," said Ona.

Juvencio Ordona, director general of the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care, said he "very much" welcomes the donation.

"We will now be able to reach (remote areas), because each mobile clinic is like a hospital. So we can now bring the hospitals to areas where there're no hospitals, where people lack the transportation to go to hospitals. So this will take care of that condition. It's a very great donation," Ordona told Xinhua minutes before the hand-over ceremony.

According to a statement issued by the Chinese embassy, the donation is part of the grant of more than 100 million pesos (US$2.3 million) offered by the Chinese government to the Philippine government to implement the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation signed by the two countries on Jan. 15, 2007, when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao paid an official visit to the Philippines.

The mobile clinics, with "quality equipment, easy mobility and accessibility", are expected to be sent to hospitals and medical centers in Davao City, Cabanatuan City, Metro Manila, among other places, "to improve medi-care conditions and provide first-aid services to the people who have difficulty in getting access to them", said the statement, adding initial estimates indicated that more than 200 people will benefit from one mobile clinic each day.

The mobile clinics can be used for diagnosis and treatment for common diseases. Equipment in the clinics can provide comprehensive physical examinations to ensure accurate treatment, such as digital ECG machine, ultrasound image system, urine analyzer, hematology analyzer, X-ray machine, automatic chemistry analyzer, tabletop low speed centrifuge, electric examination table and X-ray film illuminator.

Defibrillator and medical oxygen concentrators can treat people in emergency and allow doctors more time to send patients to hospitals. Besides, medicine refrigerator and ultraviolet sterilizer help transport medical appliances safely during long- distance travels.

The year 2010 -- the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, is approaching its end, Liu said, adding that he expects even more fruitful cooperation between the two sides "in the next 35 years", and "in the next 350 years".

"So, at the turn of the year, may I take this opportunity to wish the Philippine people all the happiness, and the Philippines all the prosperity," said Liu.

(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2010)