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The minister of health, Dr Osagie Ehanire during a the briefing of the Presidential taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19 in the country held on Monday in Abuja disclosed that the 18-member team of Chinese experts will be arriving Nigeria soon with “Globally Scarce Supplies” in a bit to fight against COVID-19
The minister rephrased his comment which was made on Friday, April 3, which reads “I announced that a team of Chinese medical experts will arrive. They are expected to arrive Nigeria in a few days with a consignment of globally scarce medical supplies, to augment government efforts and build capacity to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
Furthermore, the minister has mentioned that the donation by Chinese Companies in Nigeria, includes Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, medical consumables, over one million surgical masks for health workers and even ICU ventilators, valued at over 100,000 dollars, all sourced in the face of global scarcity of these items.
Expected Chines team includes well-schooled doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and public health managers whose responsibilities will be to share their knowledge, skills and real-life experience of combating COVID-19 with Nigerian personnel to enhance the management of coronavirus cases, especially with regard to critical care.
The basic facilities which are really a necessity, the PPEs and masks will guard our frontline workers and reduce the spread of COVID-19 among personnel’s as they execute their duties.
According to Ehanire, that the government was also working with the African Union to implement a continental response.
“A Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 response has been developed and an African Task Force on Coronavirus (AFCOR) set up to coordinate preparedness and response efforts in the continent,” he noted.
On the other hand, the minister revealed that months to come, they intend to expand further to more laboratory with capacity to test for COVID-19.
Mr Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force for the control of COVID-19, had earlier stated that the lockdown was not punitive, but a preventive measure.
And mentioned that the lockdown will be revied at the end of the week and necessary recommendation made to the President.
Nigeria, according to Mustapha has been singled out by the United Nation Secretary-general for commendation for its efforts in limiting the virus spread.
The Chinese team according to Mustapha will bring about 1, 300,000 medical masks, over 150, 000 pieces of assorted personal protective equipment as well as 50 medical ventilators.
He also revealed that the Chinese company had also proposed to sponsor public health experts to help strengthen the Nigerian public health capacity and advice on processes and procedures noting that all countries of the world do not work in isolation as they fight against coronavirus but seek for and received help in the fight against COVID-19.
Mustapha also appealed to the Nigerian medical professionals to see the coming of the Chinese team from the positive perspective, noting that it is an extension of development in the field of medicine. He also noted that the Chinese team will only train our manpower, advice on procedures and methods, install and test the equipment donated before handling them over.
Finally, Mustapha however stated that the Presidential Task Force recognized and appreciates the efforts of Nigerian doctors and other medical personnel in the fight against COVID-19.
Source: TheGuardian
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