Foday Moriba Conteh
A consignment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and other medical items were donated on Tuesday 21st April 2020 by the Chinese Government, through its Embassy in Freetown to the National Emergency Response Center for the Corona Virus during a snap but impressive ceremony at the Government Medical Stores, Compound on New England Ville in Freetown.
The donated items included 10,000 medical masks, 2,000 N95 masks, 2,000 PPEs, 500 forehead thermometers, 2,000 medical goggles, 10,000 pairs of medical gloves, 10,000 pairs of medical shoe covers and 5 ventilators estimated at Le. 259,750.00.
The World Food Program (WFP) Country Office in Sierra Leone helped to transport the items from Ghana to Sierra Leone.
Dr. Amara Jambia, the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation II, who chaired the ceremony, maintained that the donation is a ‘bumper harvest’ from the Chinese Government titled ‘China Aid for a Shared Feature,’ further underscoring that the items came at a very crucial time to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and affirmed that the world would never be the same again.
He continued that China has always been with Sierra Leone, that the donation would raise the confidence level of healthcare workers and assured that the World Health Organization in Sierra Leone would ensure the technical aspects of the items are intact.
The World Health Organization Representative informed that the donation from China is a true spirit of friendship between the two countries, that his organization appreciates the Chinese Government, that he would ensure that the kits are in place further underscoring that no one person can do win the fight but through partnership adding that COVID-19 does not respect borders and observed that the health system in Africa is weak, the reason all must plan and work together to defeat the pandemic.
He continued that most of the COVID-19 cases in Sierra Leone were imported and appealed to all to continue to be focused.
The World Food Program (WFP) Country Representative, Dr. Housanie Tall, disclosed that the pandemic has had its toll on the country’s human resource capacity as well as food security, also assuring that with its rich experience, WFP stands ready to support the people of Sierra Leone and that the items would booster the capacity of Government to combat the pandemic by saving more lives.
The Chinese Ambassador in Sierra Leone, His Excellency Ambassador Hu Zhangliang disclosed that he highly appreciates the resilience and solidarity demonstrated by the Government and People of Sierra Leone during this difficult time underscoring that a fire brigade needs a fire engine, firemen go with extinguishers, expressing hope that the items would greatly help to strengthen the country’s capacity to defeat the pandemic adding that the donation is a genuine reflection of the sincere friendship between the two countries as well as China and Africa.
The Head of the National Emergency Response Center for the Corona Virus (NERC), retired Brigadier Kellie Conteh described the donation as a significant and wonderful gift and recalled the strong bond between China and the Ministry of Defence.
He reiterated that China has always stood by Sierra Leone in thick and thin, observed that Sierra Leone has limited resources and numerous challenges, that the Ministry of Health has given the vital role to the NERC to combat the pandemic that would soon be over pointing out that developed countries must come together to help the poor, also commending the WFP and WHO for their invaluable support to the country and appealed for post-corona virus support.
The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Alpha T. Wurie, who received the items on behalf of Government, recalled that this is the third donation China has made to the country since the outbreak of the global pandemic citing the 40 KVA generator, PPEs and highlighted the country’s major strength of contact tracing stating that case management is also doing well.
He further informed that the 34 Military Hospital is leading in laboratory tests and that all the laboratories have Chinese experts but highlighted gaps in the availability of PPEs underscoring that there is no better friend than China and that he would soon again receive another consignment of medical equipment from the Chinese Government.
According to Dr. Alpha T. Wurie, Government has put in place a life insurance scheme for medical staffs who are leading the fight against the pandemic.
In his vote of thanks, the Chief Medical Officer, Rev. Canon Dr. Thomas Samba, urged China not to be distracted by the negative propaganda from other countries with regards the pandemic concluding that UN Agencies have always supported Sierra Leone.
