JUBA — Chinese medical doctors have offered free treatment to more than 2,000 people residing along the 392 km Juba-Terekeka-Yirol-Rumbek road in South Sudan.

The first-ever longest road in the youngest nation is under construction by Shandong Hi-Speed Group Company Ltd (SDHS).

Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, on Dec 15 lauded the eighth batch of the medical team from China's Anhui province for their unwavering dedication to help poor communities in South Sudan.

"This eighth batch of Chinese medical team sent from Anhui province over the years have been very active in conducting medical treatment for the local people in South Sudan. They are always thinking about people who live far away and people who have very little access to medical services," Hua told journalists during the medical outreach at Nyuwa health center in Jebel Lado located on the outskirts of the capital, Juba.

Charles Andrea Jada, executive director of Ladu Payam in Central Equatoria state, thanked the Chinese medical team for supporting the poor people with treatment.

The medical outreach has collaborated together with SDHS in efforts to support local communities residing along the road.

The Juba-Terekeka-Yirol-Rumbek road connects about seven states including Central Equatoria, Lakes, Unity, Western Bahr El Ghazal, Northern Bahr El Ghazal and Warrap states and it also links to the contested Abyei Administrative Area with neighboring Sudan.

SDHS has already completed the first section of the highway from Juba to Terekeka.

This came in the aftermath of the recently signed agreement between the Chinese government in Juba and South Sudan's ministry of health that will see Beijing continue to send medical teams from Anhui province to the youngest nation starting 2021 to 2026.

Meanwhile, the Chinese medical team since its arrival in August has been training South Sudanese doctors, in addition to sharing knowledge on COVID-19 and other diseases at the main referral hospital Juba Teaching Hospital.

The medical team consisting of experts in laboratory technology, infection, insensitive care, public health, and nursing have also donated medical equipment to the Juba Teaching Hospital to help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.