The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Sierra Leone together with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on 29th May 2023 jointly organized a ceremony to bid farewell to the 6th Chinese Military Medical Expert Group (CMMEG) attached to the 34 Military Hospital in Freetown.

Ambassador Wang Qing, Deputy Minister of Defence Mauna Massaquoi, Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General Peter Lavahun, Commanding Officer of the Joint Medical Unit Dr. Stephen Sevalie, Members of CMMEG and some of their partners were in attendance.

Ambassador Wang applauded the government and people of Sierra Leone for recognizing the contributions of the Chinese military medical expert team. He noted that the CMMEG cooperation dated back to 2015, when the Chinese side came to help Sierra Leone in fighting against Ebola.

Over the past years, CMMEG have been working side by side with their Sierra Leonean counterparts at the Tropical Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Centre at 34 Military Hospital.

They have exerted immense efforts in helping the Sierra Leonean side screen, prevent and control all kinds of epidemics. They have upgraded the software and hardware of Infectious Diseases Surveillance System of RSLAF, helping turn the clinical laboratory of 34 Hospital into one of the most advanced labs in Sierra Leone.

Deputy Minister Massaquoi intimated that over the years, Sierra Leone has benefited immensely from the goodwill of the Chinese People. Tangible infrastructural projects include but not limited to the Youyi building, the national stadium, the newly constructed ultra-modern Myohaung Officers’ Mess, the state-of-the-art Infectious Disease Prevention and Treatment Centre at 34 Military Hospital which is the first of its kind in the country and one of the best in West Africa.

He also noted that the CMMEGs left a legacy on the health system of Sierra Leone, the sixth group had gone beyond the traditional role of working with the RSLAF, by venturing into research work with other ministries to save the country from the Anthrax disease that broke out in the North and Northwest region in late 2022.

The event was ended with distributions of certificates of appreciation to all CMMEG members and a group photo of all dignitaries present at the ceremony.