China agreed to build a permanent a laboratory in Sierra Leone, one of the three Ebola ravaged countries in West Africa, as the fight against the dreaded Ebola disease intensifies.

The two countries signed an agreement on Oct 31 in Freetown. Finance Minister Kaifalla Marah signed on behalf of Sierra Leone, whilst Chinese Ambassador Zhao Yanbo on behalf of the Chinese government.

The Chinese Ambassador noted that China realises the challenges Sierra Leone is facing in its health care delivery service especially with the outbreak of the Ebola disease.

Cognisant of these challenges is why since the outbreak of the Ebola virus, China has made emergency medical aid to support the government and people of Sierra Leone to fight against the disease, Zhao said, adding that China was the first foreign country to come to the assistance of the three countries in May this year.

He mentioned the other humanitarian assistance his government has made available to the three nations in their fight to contain and eradicate the disease in the sub-region.

Zhao said apart from the assistance to fight the Ebola virus, the reason for the laboratory is to help the country in the fight against any further outbreak of any other tropical disease. He disclosed that the construction of the laboratory will commence this month.

In his statement of appreciation, Marah noted the tremendous help and intervention made by the Government of China in all spheres of the country’s development from agriculture to construction and human development.

He informed the envoy that the country will fulfill their own part of the agreement to provide the land for the construction of the laboratory as well as ensure that the tax and duty waivers and all that is required of the government to ensure the completion of the project.