China-Liberia Malaria Prevention Center (Linked to Record ID#1647)

From November 3-5, 2006, during the China-Africa Cooperation Summit, China agreed to create many anti-malaria centers across Africa, including Liberia. Preperations began shortly after the meeting (Chinese Medical Cooperation In Africa, pg17).

Starting from 30 January, Chinese President Hu Jintao began a tour around Africa, visiting Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, and Mozambique. The purpose of the tour is to follow up on the China-Africa Beijing summit in November last year. While in Monrovia, Hu talked with Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of seven documents on cooperation in economy, technology, health, education and agriculture, and also attended the inauguration of a malaria prevention and treatment center at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Sinkor, which was supported by China.

According to a 2011 Working Series report, China established an anti-malaria medical center in Monrovia, Liberia on 1 February 2007.

After the establishment of the anti-malaria center, Chinese experts could set up and test the facilities, exchange ideas with local specialists and give technological training to medical staff. For the following three years, the Chinese government provided the center’ facilities and drugs free of charge.

It is important that the center should serve as national bases not only for laboratory and clinical departments, but also, and more importantly, for research into anti-malaria strategies (including malaria prevention), for exchanges of advanced technology and for training medical staff. On March 12, 2007, China donated malaria medicine to the center (captured in #1647).