BEIJING – Monday, November 26, 2018- The Jingeng Rehabilitation Hospital situated in Ruzhou City, Henan Province has volunteered to provide “free” medical treatment and rehabilitation to Liberian children suffering from difficult and complicated ailments, a dispatch from Liberia’s Embassy in China says.
Some of the ailments include peripheral neuropathy, femoral head necrosis, vasculitis, osteomyelitis, lumbar disc, infantile cerebral palsy, amongst others that cannot be treated in the country.
According to the press release from the Liberian Embassy in Beijing, the offer was made possible through the efforts of Chinese philanthropist and businesswoman, Ms. Yang Nan, who collaborates with Liberia’s First Lady, Ambassador Clar M. Weah’s foundation, Clar Hope Foundation.
The medical director, Dr. Song Zhaopu gave the assurances when the Minister of State, Mr. Nathaniel Farlo McGill, who was on a private trip to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), visited the hospital recently.
Dr. Song, welcoming Minister McGill, praised China – Liberia relations and stressed that Liberia is an important partner and friend. He urged the Liberian first lady to take advantage of the offer for the good of sick and disadvantaged Liberian children.
Minister McGill poses with Dr. Song Zhaopu (l) and Ms. Yang Nan (r)
Responding on behalf of his delegation and the Clar Hope Foundation, Minister McGill assured that Liberia sees the overture as a great initiative extended by Dr. Song and will take upmost advantage of the offer. He assured that Ambassador Weah and her foundation are concern about the welfare of the Liberian children.
“I can assure you that the First Lady takes problems of the Liberian children seriously,” he declared.
Minister McGill reiterated the cordial and friendly ties subsisting between Liberia and China highlighting the adherence to the “One-China Policy” that Liberia has enacted in law.
He emphasized the overwhelming support that China continues to give to the Government and people of Liberia; recounting China’s immense assistance to the country during the Ebola epidemic outbreak in 2014. “That cooperation will continue to be strengthened ensuring “win-win” situation, Minister McGill assured.
Minister McGill thanked Dr. Song and the entire staff at Jingeng Hospital for the warm reception accorded him and his delegation, though on a private visit, during their stay and likewise, extended Dr. Song a formal invitation to visit Liberia soon. He also thanked Ms. Yang for making the memorable visit possible.
The 800-bed Jingeng Rehabilitation Hospital, formerly called Song’s Department of Traditional Chinese Medical Bone Surgery, was established by physician Song Jingeng, Dr. Song’s father, in 1981. It inherited and advocates Chinese medicine and emphasizes characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine, whose combination of Chinese and western medicines not only respects tradition but also innovates boldly.
Since the hospital commenced its operations nine years ago, this state-of-the-art medical facility has cured about 3,000 children, most of them orphaned and abandoned who have now been adopted by welfare institutions in China and foreign families in other parts of the world. However, they have assisted approximately 6,000 children who are orphaned and disadvantaged as well as physically challenged.
In another development, Chinese philanthropist and president of Chinese premier league club, Henan Jianye Football Club, Ms. Yang Nan has donated 2,000 footballs and 1,000 sets of jerseys, shorts and socks to Minister McGill be used as he sees appropriate. She also offered to host the country’s senior national team for training and to bring promising Liberian youth at their football academy for training at no cost to the Liberian government.
The donation was made to Minister McGill following a tour of the Henan Football Development Foundation’s 25,000-seater stadium, which is home to the Jianye FC. He had earlier toured the football park and academy used to train young and upcoming footballers.
Ms. Yang, who is also chairperson of the foundation and runs the football academy, expressed delight at being able to assist in the development of the youth in Liberia especially doing that through sports. She looks forward to the day that Liberians can join Jianye FC and meet the standards to play in the Chinese professional league.
“I want Liberians to know about our foundation, including its soccer team. We can possibly partner with Liberian soccer teams and scout some players to eventually play for Jianye FC in the Chinese professional soccer league. That’s my dream,” Ms. Yang envisioned.
For his part, Mr. McGill, who was extremely ecstatic, thanked Ms. Yang for the generous donation and promised that the donation will reach to every nook and cranny of the country exhibiting the name of her foundation’s franchise.
Meanwhile, during his stay in China, Minister McGill visited a few other institutions including StarTimes Group and Huawei – some of the most influential system integrators and technology providers to see how they can partner with government to improve the quality of life of the Liberian people. He also held meetings with several potential investors interested in doing business in Liberia.
Mr. McGill was accompanied to China by the Chief Executive Officer of Nyanneh’s Company, Incorporated, Mr. Wilson T. Nyanneh.
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