Moses Ofodeme
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire on Monday, April 6; has explained that the team of Chinese doctors was invited due to their experience in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
Osagie, made this disclosure during the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing on Coronavirus in the country.
“On Friday, April 3, I announced that a team of Chinese medical experts will arrive. They are expected to arrive in 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.
“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 the global scarcity of these items.
“In addition, Chinese medical experts, comprising doctors; nurses; laboratory technicians; and public health managers will share their knowledge; skills and real-life experience of fighting COVID-19 with Nigerian personnel to strengthening management of COVID-19 cases; especially with regard to critical care,” he said.
Ehanire also said that this initiative would greatly build the capacity of hard-working; as well as resourceful Nigerian Healthcare workers at the forefront of fighting coronavirus.
“The much-needed PPEs and masks will protect our frontline workers; and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the line of duty.
“We have a window of opportunity to strengthen our own response mechanism. This is through lessons learned from any country that has had the experience and can provide a hands-on demonstration of dealing with the outbreak; and give the Nigerian clinical workforce the opportunity to share global best practices,” he explained.
The minister disclosed that the government has also identified additional treatment centres.
He said that the government was also working with the African Union to implement a continental response.
“We are working with the African Union to develop 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.