Liberia,Egypt, and China sign A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Tappitta Hospital..............

The Chinese,Egyptian, and Liberian representatives at the signing ceremony .

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the smooth operation of the newly constructed modern Tapitta Hospital, in Northern Nimba County, Liberia has been signed among the Chinese, Liberian and Egyptian governments. The agreement among the governments of the three countries was signed last Tuesday in Monrovia, with the Ambassadors of the governments of China and Egypt affixing their signatures to the agreement, while the Minister of Health of Liberia Dr. Walter Gwenigale signed on behalf of the government of Liberia.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chinese Ambassador Zhou Yuxiao recalled that the hospital has since been officially turned over to the Liberian government since July 26, 2010 as a gift from his government to the Government of Liberia on the natal day of the country, but noted that it had not been operational since its hand-over due to the inadequacy of medical workers in Liberia.

Chinese Ambassador Yuxiao underscored the importance for everything to be done to ensure the speedy opening of the hospital and the training of Liberian health practitioners in China, who will return later to render services to the hospital. For his part, Egyptian Ambassador Maher El-Adawy expressed happiness over the signing of the MOU and assured that his country is prepared to play its part despite the on-going political crisis in Egypt.

According to the MOU, Liberian Government will take ownership of the facilities and would manage and operate the hospital at its own cost. The GOL will also provide accommodations, local transportation and complimentary medical treatment and make available other convenient services for both the Chinese and Egyptian medical experts who will be made available by the two countries in keeping with the agreement.

Also in keeping with the MOU, these foreign health practitioners would be exempted from paying taxes from their salaries and given other duty free privileges on their personal effects. In keeping with the agreement, the Chinese government is expected to dispatch five experts to help with the operation and maintenance of the major medical equipment, while providing on-the-job trainings for local technicians.

The Chinese government will also bear the travel cost and training expenses for 25 medical, technicians and managerial personnel from Liberia to travel to China for a period of 45 days to learn and return, while the Egyptian government would also send to the country around two to five medical doctors in specialized areas such as Obstetrics/Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and ENT to assist in the running of the hospital.