On May 26, 2026, Ambassador Zhao Yong and UNICEF representative in Sierra Leone, Rudolf Schwenk, visited the Ola-During Children's Hospital to inspect the implementation of the "Accelerating Newborn and Child Health in Sierra Leone for Improved Survival and Well-being" project, supported by the China Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund(GDF).

Ambassador Zhao Yong stated that the project provides reliable support for improving the health of newborns and children in Sierra Leone through personnel training and equipment upgrades, and is a vivid example of China and Sierra Leone deepening South-South cooperation through UN agencies.

Mr. Schwenk highly praised the positive role of the GDF in promoting South-South cooperation and global development, believing that this project will have a significant impact on improving newborn and child health care in Sierra Leone.

Officially launched in April, this project is the second GDF project implemented in Sierra Leone by China and UNICEF, aiming to continuously strengthen the national newborn medical service system and actively improve the well-being of women and children in Sierra Leone.