(source: Walta Information Centre)
Ethiopia said it has keen interest in bolstering cooperation with China in the health sector, hoping to get more support from the Chinese government in the sector, according to Xinhua.
The move came as a Chinese medical delegation led by Yin Li, the vice minister of health, is paying a working visit to the African country.
While discussing with members of the delegation on Thursday, Ethiopian State Minister of Health Dr Kebede Worku said China has been making significant contribution to the overall development of Ethiopia.
The state minister said the Ethiopian government spoke highly of the overall support by the Chinese government to Ethiopia's endeavor in achieving economic growth, ensuring sustainable development and alleviating poverty.
"Chinese companies and financing institutions are involving in different development sectors, in infrastructures, road development, power development, telecommunications, ICT development, pharmaceuticals, and in other important sectors here in Ethiopia," Dr Kebede said.
Yin Li on his part said that China and Ethiopia are enjoying good relations in social, economic and political arenas.
He said the two countries are cooperating in different areas including among others, health, education, culture and human resource development sectors.
"Sending Chinese medical team to Ethiopia is part of the cooperation between the two countries in the health sector, and the deployment of the medical professionals here in Ethiopian hospitals is to further enhance the cooperation between the two countries and also strengthen their friendship," said the vice minister.
He said Ethiopia has given special attention to Chinese health professionals and currently there are a number of Chinese doctors providing health services in different Ethiopian hospitals.
Dr Kebede has also told Xinhua that the health sector cooperation between Ethiopia and China is mainly in the area of human resource development.
He said there are a number of Chinese doctors deployed in different public hospitals both in the capital and regions in different specialization.
He said there are Chinese surgeons, internists, pathologists and neuron surgeons providing services in different hospitals in Ethiopia.
"There is also cooperation in malaria prevention and control activities. The Chinese government has been providing support in the area at Malaria Research Center in Adama town of the Oromia state, with equipment supply and technical support," he said.
There is also a hospital under construction named Tirunesh Beijing Hospital in commemoration of an Ethiopian athlete, Tirunesh Dibaba, who collected two gold medals at the Beijing Olympic Games, which the state minister said is another area that strengthens the cooperation in the health sector between the two sides.
There are also technical assistances such as short term and long term training offered to Ethiopian health professionals by the Chinese government, he added.
Dr Kebede said the number of medical colleges in the country has jumped to 10 from only three in four and five years back.
He added that Ethiopia seeks further support from the Chinese government in the sector so as to improve health services in the country.
The state minister said he had an excellent discussion with the Chinese medical delegation that arrived in Addis Ababa on Wednesday.