Sat, November 21, 2009
ABIDJAN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire is intensifying its cooperation with China in fighting malaria, "the silent killer" of children, health officials say with a joint venture underway in the West African country.
Officials vowed to escalate their joint fight at the ground breaking ceremony on Friday for an anti-malaria center at the National Institute for Public Health (INSP) in the city of Adjame.
"This action is within the framework of Sino-Ivorian cooperation. This center is expected to help reduce malaria in Cote d'lvoire," declared Chinese ambassador Wei Wenhua at the ceremony. The Chinese diplomat pointed out that the research center would serve as the platform of exchanges in the health domain between the two countries.
Cote d'Ivoire's Health Minister Remi Allah Kouadio said he was pleased with this initiative. Cote d'lvoire, just like many other sub-Saharan African countries, is suffering a serious problem caused by malaria, he said, adding if "we all unite, we are going to eradicate malaria." he estimated.
In Cote d'lvoire, malaria causes the death of 12 children every 90 minutes, health officials say.
