The Inquirer
Monrovia, Liberia

Distributed by

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

Posted July 3, 2004

Two suspected cases of HIV/AIDS have been recorded at the UNMIL Chinese Level-2 hospital in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County.

The hospital which was formally dedicated last month, is located in the compound of the Tubman Palace, the official home of UNMIL Sector-4.

Since its establishment, the pre-fabricated buildings erected by the Chinese engineering contingent, has been catering to both UNMIL soldiers and residents of the county.

The well-equipped and staffed hospital offers services in the areas of therapy, surgery, and ophthalmology.

In an interview with this paper recently, Dr. Wang Wanming, who is the deputy Commander of the Chinese Level- 2 hospital contingent said, “since we began our operation in Zwedru, we have diagnosed two suspected cases of AIDS.”

Dr. Wanming attributed the AIDS problems in Liberia to drugs abuse.

He however disclosed that the most prevalent cases reported at the hospital is malaria.

Meantime, he said the hospital’s pharmacy is stocked with anti-malaria drugs to deal with the high prevalence rate of the disease. According to him, the hospital receives an average of 20 out-patients and six in-patients daily.

Dr. Wanming disclosed to our reporter that his surgical team have had to perform two major operations but the two patients involved have since been transferred to Monrovia.

He said even though the hospital was established to cater to only UNMIL personnel, “we are also providing treatment to NGO employees and the community people. Our goal is to see a healthy Liberia”, he added.

According to Dr. Wanming, under his contingent’s community outreach program, they will conduct medical tests in schools and cater to children, women and the elderly.

Dr. Wanming is expected to celebrate his 23 years of successful military service in the Chinese army as a devoted and committed soldier. He described his first peacekeeping assignment as “very challenging.”