From Inquirer.net

China has renewed its pledge of medical assistance to Africa and is to send 1,500 medical workers to the continent.

In particular, the country vowed to help the continent in capacity building, the search for talent, and infrastructure development.

The promise was delivered at the second Ministerial Forum of China-Africa Health Development, which ended on Oct 6 in the South African city of Cape Town.

Chinese and African health officials adopted the Cape Town Declaration, which aims to save lives and improve public well-being through strengthened access to quality essential health commodities, medicines, vaccines and medical devices and services.

The primary focus includes diseases such as Ebola, HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and non-communicable diseases.

Li Bin, minister of China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission, told the forum that in the post-Ebola era, “China is willing to provide assistance and support in the establishment of disease control and prevention systems at regional and national levels.”

This would reinforce the surveillance, monitoring and response capacity of African countries to public health emergencies, Li said.

“It is of great importance to set up a well-functioning public health system in Africa, particularly in response to emerging infectious diseases,” she said.

Read more at  Inquirer.net