BEIJING: A team of Chinese medical experts is set to leave Beijing early Tuesday for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to assist with efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak, according to China’s National Health Commission (NHC).
China decided to deploy the high-level expert team after the World Health Organization declared on May 17 that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC was a “public health emergency of international concern.”
Drawing on extensive experience in epidemic prevention and control, the experts will collaborate with the Chinese medical team already operating in the DRC and work closely with local health and disease control authorities to help curb the spread of the virus.
The team will also conduct prevention and treatment training for local healthcare institutions, the Chinese medical mission, the Chinese embassy, Chinese companies, and Chinese citizens living in the country.
According to an NHC official, the deployment reflects China’s commitment to international cooperation in combating the epidemic. The official said the team will share practical outbreak-response expertise tailored to local conditions and help strengthen the DRC’s capabilities in Ebola prevention, control, and treatment.
Since the latest outbreak emerged, the 24th Chinese medical team stationed in the DRC has implemented emergency measures and established a comprehensive prevention and control system. These efforts include training sessions and emergency drills, supply coordination, and improvements to living conditions for team members. Medical personnel have continued providing frontline clinical services to safeguard the health of local communities as well as Chinese nationals in the DRC.
