COVID-19: Nigeria seeks China’s support as cases rise

The Federal Ministry of Health has called on the Chinese Government to lend its technical support to the fight against Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, following 36 confirmed cases, two discharged and one death recorded.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, made the plea when the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, made a donation of medical supplies and equipment to the ministry on Monday in Abuja.
The number has since risen to 40 as at 11pm on Monday.
Ehanire commended the Chinese Government for winning the fight against COVID19 as businesses and organisations have been allowed to reopen.
He said the measures implemented by the Chinese Government during the outbreak would be instructive to the country in order to control the virus.
The minister said the experience in China reinforced the importance of listening to science and public health experts during pandemic events.
He therefore, asked the Chinese Government to support Nigeria with its public health experts that would aide the country to review its  strategies.
He said that Nigeria would like to learn from the Chinese Government on how they were able to put in place unprecedented containment and social distancing measures.
Ehanire said the country need mobility for contact tracing, ventilators, testing kits and Personal Protective Equipment to aide the fight against COVID-19 in the country.
Earlier, Pingjian said they would not forget sympathy and support extended by Nigeria when the Chinese people were in the most challenging stage of battling the epidemic.
He said: “Virus respect no boarders.
“In the face of public health emergencies, a common challenge to humanity, the most powerful weapon we have is solidarity and cooperation.
“To protect the health and wellbeing of the Nigerian people and actually all the people living in Nigeria, the authorities have been working assiduously on the epidemic response in a science based, rational and professional way from day one.”
The Ambassador said the Chinese Government has full confidence in Nigeria’s determination and capacity to defeat the virus ultimately.
He advocated for Nigerians to continue to treat the Chinese national in the country as their bothers and sisters.
He said: “You throw a peach to me, and I give you a white jade for friendship.
“It is China’s traditional virtue to repay goodwill with greater kindness.”
Zhou noted that China would support Nigeria in the fight against COVID-19 and stand ready to assist to the best of its capacity.
He said despite the daunting task of epidemic control remaining in China, the country would try its best to provide medical supplies to Nigeria and do whatever it could do to support the country.
“China will continue to share information and experience with Nigeria, and strengthen cooperation on containment, treatment and vaccines in response to the COVID-19 challenge, with a view to building together a community of shared health for mankind,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that items donated were gloves, N-95 mask, surgical mask, shoe cover, head cover, digital clinical thermometer and hand held non-contact infrared thermometer.
Others are hand sanitisers with dispenser stands and refills, chlorine disinfectant bleach, disposable surgical gown, white safety boots, liquid hand wash, couch rolls, tyvek suit, goggles, laptop, desktop, printer, copier and scanner machine