00:06In Banki, Sino-Central African Cooperation is taking shape in the health sector.
00:12At the Friendship Hospital, Chinese experts and local workers are carrying out a major renovation
00:18aimed at modernizing one of the country's key medical facilities.
00:24The project is expected to improve the hospital's capacity
00:28and provide patients with better access to essential health care.
00:31For those working on the site, the transformation is a source of hope.
00:38Everyone here is willing to do it, and the equipment needed is available.
00:43In the near future, the rehabilitation work will be completed.
00:48And who knows, if we fall sick tomorrow, they'll take care of us here.
00:55Built in 1990 with Chinese support, the Friendship Hospital has deteriorated over the years.
01:02Now, every stage of the renovation is being overseen by Chinese experts in collaboration
01:07with their Central African Republic counterparts.
01:11Residents of Banki are eager to see the facility reopen.
01:16Our greatest desire is to see the hospital back in service because it's not far away.
01:22There are people who are suffering and in need of care.
01:26For the Central African Republic, where access to health care remains a challenge,
01:31the project comes at a critical time.
01:34Experts say rehabilitating the hospital could help reduce costly medical evacuations
01:39and improve access to specialized treatment.
01:43This hospital has played a major role for decades in providing essential health care,
01:48particularly to disadvantaged populations.
01:51With the rehabilitation of the infrastructure,
01:53we hope Chinese medical technology will be deployed here,
01:57helping us avoid medical evacuations,
01:59which are very expensive for an economy as fragile as that of the Central African Republic.
02:05The refurbishment is also expected to benefit medical professionals and students.
02:11As one of the University of Banki's teaching hospitals,
02:15the facility provides a crucial environment for treatment, training and knowledge transfer.
02:23The Friendship Hospital is almost rehabilitated, and that is a good thing.
02:28We will benefit from this infrastructure by having decent conditions to welcome our patients.
02:34We also appeal to the medical team to take care of this building.
02:38As health professionals, we will make every effort to properly treat our patients
02:42so that they can recover.
02:47Beyond construction, the project is also opening opportunities for technology transfer.
02:53Professor Yanga Timbi says the installation of new diagnostic equipment,
02:57including a scanner, will improve the treatment of patients with serious medical conditions.
03:02As work continues, the Friendship Hospital is becoming a symbol of renewed hope
03:07for patients, health care workers and the wider community.
03:12For the Central African Republic, it represents not only improved medical infrastructure,
03:17but also a deeper partnership with China in strengthening the country's health system.
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