NIGERIA. Lagos State: The Chinese government, Afrimed, and Aeonmed have given the Lagos state government medical equipment worth N100 million to aid in the fight against COVID-19 and other health-related problems.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, thanked the donors and promised them that the products would be used wisely to improve the state’s emergency response after receiving the contribution in Lagos.
“This is not the first donation that the Chinese government is making to Lagos State in response to COVID-19. At the peak of COVID-19, we received quite a lot of consumables that were extremely useful in fighting off the wave,” Ogboye said.
Seven ventilators are among the supplies received. Medical professionals perceive and believe that the state urgently needs medical assistants to boost the emergency response in Lagos State.
Therefore, the donation will go a long way in adding value to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of the state general hospitals.
“We hope the ties between the two countries will continue, and that we too will make donations to the Chinese government,” Ogboye said.
Chu Maoming, the Chinese consul general to Nigeria, said in remarks made when the equipment was delivered to the Lagos state government that the Chinese government’s top priority in providing for its people is to improve public health, especially in the event of a pandemic.
“There is still a long way to go to improve intensive care treatment for many African countries because of the cost of intensive care units being very high, and the staff from ICU need to be well trained.”
“Medical experts from China are in some African countries, rendering medical support. This is another joint effort between the countries in the fight against COVID-19. The Chinese community/Chinese companies and organizations, in 2020 also donated some medical materials and equipment,” Maoming said.
Maoming further noted that hospitals and medical professionals have helped local Chinese communities to manage and cope with the pandemic.
“We are donating these seven ventilators to the Lagos State Government as a way of showing our appreciation to the state Ministry of Health and the medical staff. I am sure that the equipment will contribute to the fight against COVID-19 and benefit more Nigerians and Chinese,” he added.
The representative of Afrimed and Aeonmed, Oyebanji Oluwakayode Dada, stated in his contribution that more than N100 million in medical equipment will be installed and that Afrimed and Aeonmed will teach medical workers how to use it.
“Afrimed and Aeonmed’s mission to improve the healthcare system and help to bridge the gap between China and Africa,” Dada said.
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