China to construct cardio centre in Kumasi

China has hinted that it will collaborate with Ghanaian authorities to establish a cardiovascular centre in Kumasi to complement the National Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC),  Mr Yong Feng, disclosed this in Beijing, China, during an interaction with some journalists from Africa.

Mr Yong was addressing the journalists on the health cooperation that had and still existed between China and Africa dating as far back as 1963.

In response to the future prospects of China’s collaboration with Ghana on health, he lauded Ghana’s progress in public health, describing the country as having an advanced medical system.

He said a strong Chinese cardiovascular team was currently working with Ghanaian colleagues in the country.

Cooperation benefits

Another health benefit that has accrued to Ghana as a result of China’s cooperation with Africa is the promotion of three industrial cooperation agreements with the eight countries.

“Ghana has also been part of five international health policy round-table discussions called by China to promote mutual understanding and cooperation in health development, experience sharing and academic dialogue,” he explained.

Ghana has, together with Botswana, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Morocco, Burundi and Sierra Leone, benefitted from free cataract surgery since 2014. 

Mr Yong said there were currently 989 Chinese health professionals working in 40 African countries, while as of 2015, 113 courses had been organised for 2,102  health professionals and 812 medical scholarships offered to Africans.

Africa cooperation

Touting the health gains that Africa had made as a result of the fruitful cooperation with China, he said 38 health facilities had been built across the continent.

Mr Yong added that there had also been public health training for 12,471 people in 13 countries, while a treatment unit with 100 beds and a holding and treatment centre with 75 beds had been provided in Liberia and Sierra Leone, respectively.

New commitments 

Touching on the future of the cooperation between China and Africa, Mr Yong said $2 billion had been devoted to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to support the construction of hospitals and clinics, offer training to 120,000 health personnel in China, scholarships as well as vocational and technical training, all within five years.