Coronavirus: Chinese Medical Team Arrives Nigeria
Despite strident opposition to their coming, a 15-member medical team from China arrived Nigeria today into the waiting arms of the the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian; Executive...
Despite strident opposition to their coming, a 15-member medical team from China arrived Nigeria today into the waiting arms of the the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian; Executive Director, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Mr Jacques Liao, senior officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health..
The medical personnel are described as experts in infectious diseases, respiratory illness, intensive care, cardiology, neurology, general surgery and anesthesiology. They came with 16-ton test kits, ventilators, disinfection machine, disposable medical masks, drugs, infrared thermometer and other items ordered by the Federal Government.
The Minister for Health has said that the CCCEC is donating test kits, facemasks and some ventilators worth $100,000 as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to Nigeria. The CCCEC is believed to have investment worth more than $10 billion in Nigeria.
They medical team is expected to spend 30 days in Nigeria during which time the CCCEC says the Chinese medical personnel would treat its staff, adding that they have come with their drugs, and equipment to carry out COVID-19 tests on the company’s workers in the country.
“The primary purpose of the team is to provide Chinese Construction and Civil Engineering Company (CCECC) employees with critical and necessary healthcare assistance. They are also coming with adequate personal protective equipment and medical items for the employees.” Mr. Jacques Liao said in a statement.
The statement further noted, “All members of the working team have tested negative for COVID-19 and shall commence their stay in Nigeria by spending 14 days in quarantine.
It will be recalled that the Nigeria Medical Association and other unions in the health sector have described the coming of the Chinese medical team as unnecessary because professionals in the health sector have given a good account of themselves in the management of this Coronavirus and other diseases before it.
The federal government said the Chinese personnel would help in the setting up of the molecular laboratories and upgrading some existing ones. It has a strong support in Lagos state which said the services of the Chinese doctors and scientists are welcome in the state whose workforce is already overstressed.
