The Honourable Minister of Health, DR. Osagie Ehanire has received in audience a delegation from the Embassy of the Republic of China led by the Third Secretary, Li Guanjie who donated gift items towards the prevention of Covid-19 at the Ministry in Abuja.

Dr. Ehanire stated that this was the third time the Chinese government had visited the Ministry, stating that the first was when Covid-19 disease started in China and the Federal government of Nigeria was concerned about its citizens in China. The Chinese government well assured the Federal government of Nigeria that Nigerians in China were taken care of by their government.

He informed that the second time the Embassy visited the Ministry was when they came to ask what they could do to assist the Ministry at the time Nigeria was faced with the threat of the disease. He thanked the Chinese government for the gift items donated to the Ministry especially at this time the Country is facing difficulties to contain the virus. He said the equipment could not have come at a better time.

Dr. Ehanire congratulated the Chinese government as its Country is coming out of the dreaded Virus threat and is also on the verge of recovering its Economy. The Health Minister appreciated their kind gesture and extended His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari’s hand of friendship to them.

He further inquired to know how the Chinese government managed the situation at hand in order for them to assist the Federal government of Nigeria with their strategy, “’The journey to fight Corona Virus is not the journey that many people know; and it's only China that understood the language.” He employed the Chinese government to assist Nigerians with their Public Health experts for assistance which will be well appreciated.

He hinted that our Health System may not be as strong as the Chinese but the federal government is doing everything within its power to strengthen the Health sector so that Public Health will reduce the indices and the number of those who may require serious treatment to a manageable number.

He maintained that our policy is to strive for the best case scenario and prepare for the worst case scenario. In order to achieve this, the Ministry requires technical support, Ventilators, General Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) diagnostic reagent which are needed for our Laboratories Primers.

Dr.Ehanire stated that contact tracing is changing a lot of activities in the Country in order to reduce the mobility of the people and the risk of transmission. He informed that Nigeria would like to learn and know how the Chinese government were able to organise their society under a very difficult situation and try to identify with people who might be at risk if not through contact tracing. Those identified when they are contacted would be put in Isolation centres for the protection of the society.
The Honourable Minister of Health extended his warm regards to the government and people of China for putting all efforts together in containing the Covid-19 and to support the Nigerian government more in future.

Speaking earlier, the Chinese Ambassador, Mr Zhou Pingjian, promised in solidarity to support Nigeria to contain the spread of Covid-19. Mr Pingjian who was represented by the Third Secretary; LI Guanjie, said the gesture is to extend the support the Nigerian government gave China during its stage of battling with the Pandemic. He stated that the virus is a respecter of no borders, hence its importation into Nigeria, which has become a common human challenge. The Ambassador gave the assurance that China would share its measures used to contain the spread of Covid-19.