China CDC signs MOU with EPHI

Prof. Shen Hongbing, director-general of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), and Dr. Mesay Hailu, director-general of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) via video link on Aug 3. H.E. Mr. Teshome Toga Chanaka, Ethiopia's ambassador to China, attended the event and congratulated Prof Shen’s new appointment.

The two sides will collaborate in the control and prevention of infectious diseases, maternal and child nutrition and the building of laboratory testing capacity under the framework of China-Africa health cooperation and the MOU.

Shen affirmed the efforts made by the technical experts and management teams from both sides to promote cooperation. He said the China CDC will continue to provide support in strengthening cooperation among public health institutions of China and Ethiopia.

Mesay appreciated the contributions made by experts from both sides to the successful signing of the MOU. He hoped that China-Ethiopia health cooperation will reach a new level in the future by focusing on capacity building of health emergency preparedness and response as well as the control and prevention of prioritized infectious diseases.

During the event, experts from both sides exchanged views on such topics as infectious disease surveillance as well as tropical disease prevention and control. In addition, the experts from EPHI said China's technologies and achievements in disease prevention and control, especially in malaria elimination, have provided them with valuable experience, and they look forward to further cooperation in this area.