By Marius Musa Kargbo
The China Chamber of Commerce in Sierra Leone and the 27th Chinese (Hunan) Medical Team have treated and screened 200 patients in Waterloo, combining free medical consultations with the donation of essential medicines and supplies to support healthcare delivery in the community.
The outreach, held on October 10 at the Waterloo Community Health Center, also known as the Chris Brownlie Wellness Center, in the Western Area Rural District, brought together Chinese medical professionals, representatives of the Chinese Embassy, local health officials and community stakeholders in a joint effort to improve access to healthcare services.
The initiative was spearheaded and organised by the China Chamber of Commerce in Sierra Leone, with the 27th Chinese Medical Team serving as co-organiser. Chinese enterprises, including Henan International, provided operational support for the exercise.
During the programme, the Chinese representatives officially handed over essential medical supplies to the health centre. The donation included antibiotics, topical ointments, anti-malarial drugs, fever-reducing medicines and surgical face masks. The supplies were subsequently transferred to the facility’s temporary pharmacy and consultation desks for clinical use.
Medical personnel conducted vital-sign screenings, including temperature, blood pressure and blood glucose checks, while patients received consultations across several medical specialties.
At the general medicine station, Associate Professors Sheng Jie and Lian Guanghui assessed patients presenting with common internal medical conditions, including hypertension and gastrointestinal disorders. They provided diagnostic assessments and guidance on appropriate medication.
The ophthalmology station, led by attending physician Dr. Wang Jinwei, screened residents for cataracts and other common eye conditions. Details of eligible patients were recorded for possible treatment under the upcoming “Bright Journey” free cataract surgery programme, scheduled to begin in December at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital in Jui.
Patients identified during the Waterloo outreach are expected to be included in the candidate registry for surgical treatment, offering eligible residents an opportunity to access further eye care through the initiative.
The maternal and child health clinic also provided consultations and preventive health education for women and children, while the Traditional Chinese Medicine section offered acupuncture treatment to patients experiencing joint strain and musculoskeletal pain associated with heavy labour.
To ensure patients understood their treatment, medical personnel marked dosage instructions directly on medicine packaging, while interpreters and local volunteers explained prescription guidelines. At the conclusion of the morning’s activities, the team had completed 200 patient consultations and screenings, handing over the remaining medical supplies to the health centre’s administrators.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lu Yanghui, Secretary of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, emphasised the importance of healthcare to the wellbeing of local communities.
He urged medical professionals to maintain high standards in patient care and encouraged Chinese enterprises operating in Sierra Leone to fulfil their corporate social responsibilities while contributing to stronger health cooperation between the two countries.
Feng Tao, representing the China Chamber of Commerce, said the organisation continued to mobilise member companies to support local community health infrastructure. He also highlighted the chamber’s efforts to facilitate international market access for Sierra Leonean agricultural commodities.
Li Zheng, Team Leader of the 27th Chinese Medical Team, reaffirmed the team’s commitment to bringing specialised medical resources closer to grassroots communities and promoting clinical exchanges.
Former Member of Parliament Mohamed Cherno Kabia, who attended the event, noted that the donated medicines and consultations addressed pressing healthcare needs in the community.
Kiskama Fomba Swarray, Principal Public Health Superintendent for the Western Area Rural District, commended the donation and the medical team’s second outreach to Waterloo. He expressed hope that future interventions would extend to more remote communities across the district.
The outreach underscores ongoing community-level health cooperation between Chinese institutions and Sierra Leonean stakeholders, combining medical consultations, essential supplies and plans for specialised treatment to support local healthcare needs.
