Chinese Ambassador Hu Zhangliang has donated assorted items to the Minister of Social Welfare and the Muslim Community in Sierra Leone. Addressing the gathering, the Ambassador said China and Sierra Leone are celebrating 49 years of excellent relationship that grows every day and has seen both countries working assiduously to enhance the narrative. “Because of the respect we have for Sierra Leone and the brotherly relationship between the two countries, China has been continuously supporting Sierra Leone in many areas of development. We were the first to come to the aid of your government during the Ebola and coronavirus outbreaks by sending medical supplies and personnel to support the fight in the country.”
Ambassador Hu said since the COVID-19 outbreak, his government has sent seven batches of medical supplies and extended the stay of the three medical personnel in Jui lab and hospital and 34 Military Hospital. He said these moves have so greatly affected COVID in a positive way that many Sierra Leoneans are happy the Chinese were around at the beginning. “Even as we continue to support the government directly in the COVID fight, we have continued to support ministries and university students in making sure the economic situation and other crises do not have any negative impact on them. We have been donating to ministries including the Ministry of Youth and Ministry of Gender. My embassy has also given out scholarship grants to 20 university students and dozens of pupils in the secondary and primary schools receiving grants.”
Ambassador Hu said they decided to support the Muslim community because they are friends of China, adding there are over 20 million Muslims in China. “We want to identify ourselves with you and we want to show our appreciation to you because you are the majority in Sierra Leone. We just want to make a small donation to you as we work together to keep Sierra Leone safe and to continue to build on the religious tolerance in the country. I do hope this small token we are giving to you and the ministry will be appreciated and will help in the fight against COVID as well as to continue to build on the peace in the country.”
Thanking the Ambassador, the Minister of Social Welfare, Madam Dassama, thanked him and said the donation is not small, as they never knew they’d be receiving such a huge package. “I am very happy that you are thinking of my ministry and the Muslim community I am working with. We do hope that the cordiality that has already existed between us will continue and we will always support you in all your development drive.”
China, the Minister said, has shown how respectful they are in the course of their relationship and they have always shown that a friend in need is a friend indeed. She thanked Ambassador Hu and said the donation will reach the required people. President of the Inter Religious Council Sheik Abu Bakar Conteh said, although they are really surprised receiving the gifts, China has always shown respect and love for Sierra Leoneans since 1971 when the relationship was established.
He thanked Ambassador Hu and said they will continue to support the Chinese government rain or shine, because China is always a friend to Sierra Leone. The items donated by the Chinese Embassy to the Muslim community through the Ministry of Social Welfare are: 10,000 surgical masks, 10 metric tonnes of rice, 100 five gallon cooking oil, 50 Veronica buckets, 100 bottles of hand sanitiser, 2 TV sets, 15 Huawei cell phones and 10 forehead thermometers.
The Embassy also donated surgical masks and 2 desktop computers, printers, etc. to support the Social Welfare Ministry’s work. MJB/14/08/2020
By Mohamed J. Bah