Egypt has donated to Côte d’Ivoire medical equipment to support the establishment of a regional centre for liver surgery and transplant at Treichville University Hospital in Abidjan.
According to a recent statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt’s Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire Wael Badawy delivered the medical equipment donated by Egypt to Ivorian Minister of Health Pierre Dimba in presence of Dr Elie Keli, Head of the Department of General, Digestive, and Endocrine Surgery at the hospital.
Mr Dimba expressed his government’s gratitude for the gift, praising cooperation with Egypt as “a role model for South-South cooperation.”
Mr Badawy said that the aid is part of the medical cooperation between Egypt and Cote d’Ivoire. In December 2021, he said, an Egyptian medical team performed the first liver transplant in West Africa at the Treichville University Hospital. Cote d’Ivoire this became the third African country where liver transplant was performed, following Egypt and South Africa.
Egypt is also training doctors and nurses to run the new liver centre, Mr Badawy said.
Earlier on Saturday 16 September, Mr Badawy had been received by Ivoirian President Alassane Ouattara in a farewell meeting marking the conclusion of his tenure as Egypt’s ambassador, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a separate statement. The Foreign Minister of Côte d’Ivoire Kandia Camara granted Mr Badawi a medal and a commemorative plaque in appreciation of his efforts.
The Ivorian president praised the expanding cooperation between Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire, expressing his desire to continue stronger bilateral relations. He called on more Egyptian companies and investors to enter the Ivorian market in light of the available economic opportunities.
Watani International
19 September 2023