China, Ethiopia exchange views on possible public health cooperation

Professor George F. Gao, director-general of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), met with Dr. Mesay Hailu, the new director-general of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), via video link on June 22. H.E. Mr. Teshome Toga Chanaka, Ethiopia’s ambassador to China, moderated the meeting.

Director-general Dr. Mesay expressed Ethiopia's willingness to carry out collaborations in disease surveillance and detection as well as emergency preparedness and response capacity building with the China CDC.

Professor Gao pointed out that there is a great potential for China-Ethiopia cooperation in public health, and that the China CDC welcomes collaboration in areas of common interest.

Ambassador Teshome appreciated the contributions made by experts from the China CDC in promoting China-Africa health cooperation. He also hoped that the China-Ethiopia health cooperation will reach a new level by focusing on public health capacity building in the future.

During the meeting, experts from the both sides exchanged views on such topics as infectious disease control and prevention , public health emergency management, workforce development, laboratory network strengthening, nutrition as well as maternal and child health, and discussed about prospective areas of cooperation.

The China CDC and the EPHI said an MOU will be signed at an early date to establish a formal partnership between the two sides.