On May 29, 2026, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sierra Leone, together with the 27th China Medical Team to Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone, held a medicine donation ceremony during which 18,000 vials of Ribavirin injection were handed over to the Sierra Leonean side. The donation aims to strengthen local joint prevention and control capabilities against Lassa fever and other febrile infectious diseases. Mr. Wang Peng, Counselor in charge of commercial and economic cooperation of the embassy, Dr. Kenneh, Chief Medical Officer of Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, and representatives of the 27th Chinese Medical Team attended the ceremony.

Counselor Wang Peng noted that the donation fully demonstrates the efficiency and flexibility of China-Sierra Leone health cooperation. He reaffirmed China’s willingness to work closely with Sierra Leone to further deepen collaboration in the health sector and deliver greater benefits to the Sierra Leonean people.

Dr. Kenneh expressed his sincere gratitude for the timely medical assistance provided by the China Medical Team and highly commended China’s long-standing and comprehensive support for the development of Sierra Leone’s healthcare sector.

At present, the Lassa fever virus remains a major public health threat in Sierra Leone and neighboring countries. The timely delivery of these medicines by the Chinese side to frontline healthcare facilities in eastern Sierra Leone will help alleviate the current shortage of essential medicines faced by the country.