China offers Botswana covid-19 help
Staff Writer | Friday May 8, 2020 10:56
The donation includes 30,000 surgical masks, 1,000 N95 masks and 6,000 surgical gloves has already arrived. According to the Chinese Embassy in Gaborone, the handover ceremony will be held in some days to come.
The Embassy also said the second donation by the Chinese government including 150,000 masks, 15,000 N95 masks, 5,000 PPEs, 7,000 goggles, 7,000 medical gloves and 3,000 shoe covers will arrive anytime soon.
Since the outbreak of coronavirus, China has donated large quantities of medical supplies to help Botswana fight COVID-19. The first donation by China’s Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation included 100,000 masks, 20,000 testing kits, 1,000 PPE as well as other personal protective gears.
The first donation by the Chinese government included 1,000 face masks, 500 PPE, 300 infrared thermometres, goggles, gloves and shoe covers for medical use.
On April 16, the second donation by China’s Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation including 18,900 swabs and viral transport medium, 18,912 extraction kits, 3,700 medical protective clothing, 3,800 face shields, two ventilation machines, 36 thermometres, 9,500 medical gloves and 10,320 N95 masks.
“It’s worth pointing out that while making all-out efforts to combat COVID-19 at home, China has been overcoming its own difficulties and providing as much help as possible to other countries. Chinese local governments, enterprises and civil institutions also made donations to other countries,” the Embassy said.
As the first country to donate medical supplies to Botswana, China focuses on providing practical assistance that Botswana can put into the fight against COVID-19 immediately. The donation from China demonstrates the longstanding friendship between the two countries, which in nominal values goes far beyond tens of millions pula.
“Besides material support, China has been sharing experience on pandemic prevention and control. Chinese Ambassador Dr Zhao Yanbo has been in close contact with Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Lemogang Kwape and Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Dr Unity Dow and other Botswana senior officials as well as the Presidential COVID-19 Taskforce to exchange pandemic information and offer prevention experiences and practical advice.”
China has also established the Knowledge Center for China’s Experiences in Response to COVID-19, provided diagnosis and treatment protocols and held video conferences with Botswana and other African countries. We believe experience-sharing is even more important than material support and reflects the profound friendship between our two countries.
In addition, Chinese companies in Botswana are taking social responsibilities by responding to the call of H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi of donating to the COVID-19 Relief Fund. The donation pledged by the Chinese companies includes cash and donation-in-kind amounts to more than P5 million. The Chinese community in Botswana has also made donations to show their solidarity with the country. The amount pledged till now is about P5 million.
According to the organiser of the donation, part of the donation will go to COVID-19 Relief Fund and the rest will go to medics and vulnerable group of people to help fight the pandemic.