Sierra Leone marked a significant milestone in its healthcare development on Friday with the inauguration of its first Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) center in the capital city, Freetown. This initiative represents a major step in integrating TCM into the country’s medical system, offering new therapeutic options to the population.
The launch of the center follows the successful completion of a community health investigation project led by a team of Chinese doctors. This project aimed to enhance Sierra Leone’s capacity to prevent and treat common health conditions such as hypertension and chronic pain. As part of the initiative, thousands of community members across the country received free acupuncture therapy, a key component of TCM.
You Xiong, deputy head of the 25th batch of the Chinese medical team to Sierra Leone, highlighted the project’s impact, noting that acupuncture had shown promising results in managing hypertension and chronic pain. He emphasized that the positive feedback from local patients underscored the potential of TCM as a complementary approach to conventional medicine in addressing some of the country’s prevalent health challenges.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Health, Charles Senessie, praised the strong and enduring partnership between Sierra Leone and China in the healthcare sector. He acknowledged China’s long-standing support, particularly in advancing traditional medicine practices within the country. According to the deputy minister, Sierra Leone has made significant progress in integrating TCM into its national healthcare framework, recognizing its benefits in providing accessible and effective medical care.
Senessie also expressed optimism about the future role of the newly established TCM center, emphasizing its potential to serve as a training hub for local doctors. He noted that by equipping Sierra Leonean healthcare professionals with knowledge and skills in TCM, the country would be better positioned to extend quality healthcare services to residents, particularly in rural communities, where access to medical care remains a challenge.
China’s involvement in Sierra Leone’s healthcare sector dates back to 1973, when it dispatched its first medical team to the West African nation. Since then, 25 Chinese medical teams have been deployed, making substantial contributions to the country’s health system. Over the decades, this collaboration has strengthened the ties of friendship between the two nations, with China continuing to play a pivotal role in supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts to enhance healthcare delivery.
The establishment of the TCM center is expected to deepen this cooperation further, providing Sierra Leoneans with additional healthcare options and fostering the integration of traditional and modern medical practices. By leveraging TCM’s strengths in disease prevention and treatment, the country hopes to improve public health outcomes and offer patients more diverse and holistic treatment choices.