The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Shi Ting Wang, has presented 60 metric tons of medical materials to Ghana and 17 other African states to aid in the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The materials, with a volume of 400 cubic meters and donated by the Chinese government, range from PPES like N95 face masks, medical protective suits, goggles and gloves to medical facilities like artery thermometers and ventilators.
Presenting the supplies to the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Kotoka International Airport on Monday, the Ambassador expressed gratitude to the Ghana government for approving to be the transit center for the supplies.
He noted that China has also suffered the bitter ravages of the COVID-19 and still recovering and but as a country with the biggest population in the world, medical supplies have been insufficient.
Ambassador Wang admitted that, nearly every country in the world has asked for China’s support and stressed that the much-needed medical items are in short supply because of the great demand.
According to him, since the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese government under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, has executed vigorous measures and contained the spread of the epidemic within its borders.
China, a country of 1.4 billion people, he said, has so far stemmed the tide of new homegrown cases to almost zero.
This achievement, he said, does not come without cost and stressed that the Chinese have accumulated rich experiences that they are willing to share with the international community.
He explained that China is together with Africa and will continue to donate medical supplies adding, “We have established an on-line training platform to share medical expertise with medical workers from Ghana and other African countries.”
“China already provided some supplies to Ghana and other African countries when the Jack Ma Foundation donated a consignment of 10,000 masks, 10,000 medical use protective suits, 1,000 face shields and 20,000 testing kits.”
The Ambassador disclosed that Jack Ma has agreed to donate more medical supplies to Ghana countries after a personal appeal to him.
Many Chinese companies, he said, are also doing their best to support the country.He stressed that the Chinese government will further strengthen medical cooperation with Africa in a bid to contain the pandemic.Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, expressed gratitude of the government to the Chinese for the support.
The supplies, she said, would come in handy as the government introduces enhanced measures to contain and curb the spread of the Coronavirus.
Ghana, she said, is ready to play a leading role in the fight against the pandemic as it did during the Ebola scourge and offers its facility for coordinating the efforts in Africa.
Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, observed that Ghana like the rest of West African countries has fragile health systems and therefore would require some support.
He said government is working to provide the needed emergency support because before the Coronavirus outbreak such systems did not exist.
He noted it has become clear people would need more masks and stressed the offer from the Chinese government is therefore a welcome saviour.
