International conferences are always important to showcasing a country’s strides in improving the development aspirations of its people. It is in this regard that the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) in charge of clinical services at the Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr. Mustapha Kabba, was invited to represent Sierra Leone at an international health summit organized by the Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University in China.
Dr. Mustapha Kabba, central, representing Sierra Leone at the just concluded international health conference in China.
The week-long activities were primarily aimed at consolidating the already strong partnership between the Ministry of Health and the Xiangya School of Public Health. The two institutions have had a very strong bilateral relationship in the health sector with people from Sierra Leone receiving study grants and other opportunities to be educated at the Xiangya University. For Sierra Leone, it was an opportunity to shed the spotlight on the country’s health sector with a key focus on highlighting major accomplishments as well as identifying strategic areas for improved partnership and further collaborations.
Dr. Mustapha Kabba, delivering a presentation at the just concluded international health conference held at the Xiangya School of Public Health.
The presentations from Sierra Leone were well received, according to Dr. Mustapha Kabba, and a series of agreements were made. These agreements, including more scholarships and training opportunities as well as providing advanced research skills in Sierra Leone, now require follow ups to ensure that they come to fruition.
Dr. Mustapha Kabba, central, poses for photo with very high Chinese Government officials and health professionals
Aside from looking for opportunities to strengthen the health sector, Dr. Kabba also used the chance to meet with and have productive discussions with Sierra Leonean students studying at the Central South University. The meeting gave a sense of hope to the students who were very impressed with information about how Sierra Leone is making significant gains in the healthcare sector. In addition to these engagements, the DCMO Clinical also had other fruitful discussions with the Xiangya Medical School, where he was taken on a conducted tour of the very big and well renowned hospital.
Some Sierra Leonean students pose for photo with Dr. Mustapha Kabba after the conference.
The Xiangya hospital is responsible for sending medical doctors to the Jui China Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital to provide medical services. The hospital also sent doctors to help Sierra Leone during Ebola as well as working with MoH on research in setting up key laboratories. With its extensive structure in terms of medical service delivery and good surgical capabilities, Sierra Leone stands a great chance to continue to benefit from the Xiangya Medical School.
Dr. Mustapha explained more about the major outcomes of the just concluded conference and its benefits to Sierra Leone in this short audio excerpt.
A link to the audio here.