Page 36 Amid a wave of opposition, 15 Chinese Medical Experts arrived in Nigeria, on Wednesday, to join in the battle against Covid-19 in the country
The Federal Government received some Medical equipment and supplies brought by Medical team, which arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in a chartered Air Peace flight.
China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, the sponsor of the trip, said that they brought about 16-tons of test kits, ventilators, disinfection machine, disposable medical masks, N95 masks, medications, rubber gloves, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, infra-red thermometers, and others.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who was at the Airport to receive the Chinese and their supplies, said that the team will be quarantined for two weeks.
“They knew that before they came, and have undergone tests before they left their country.
“Nevertheless, they will be in quarantine for 14 days. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has gone to see where they will be quarantined.”
Ehanire added: “The equipment (they brought) will assist a lot to fill some existing gaps.
“We now have 50 more ventilators.”
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, stated that the equipment and Medical supplies are valued at about $1.5 million. Added to the cost of the flight, everything is worth about $2 million.
It was learnt that 12 of the 15-man team are Doctors, and the rest are Specialists in infectious diseases, respiratory illnesses, intensive care, cardiology, neurology, general surgery, and anesthesiology.
CCECC Nigeria Managing Director, Diang Jiang, said in a statement: “The primary purpose of the working team, is to escort the Medical supply and provide guidance for their usage and distribution.
“They will also provide CCECC employees with critical and necessary healthcare assistance, where necessary. They are also coming with adequate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and Medical items for the employees.
“In addition, under the directive of the Chinese Embassy and in response to the Nigeria Government’s request, the working team may also share with Nigerian Medical teams effective methods on how to contain the Covid-19, and provide advice on the use of relevant medical equipment.
“The team is not coming to treat Covid-19 patients in Nigeria.
“In keeping with its corporate value, ‘Stride with Nigeria’, CCECC is participating in the construction of two Covid-19 response facilities in the FCT, for free, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).
“The facilities are a 196-bed at ‘ThisDay Dome Treatment Centre’, in collaboration with Sahara Group and Arise News; and the 150-bed ‘Idu Depot Treatment Centre’.”
Elsewhere, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, and the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, NARD, re-iterated that the Chinese Experts must not directly treat any Nigerian patient.
They described any attempt by the Chinese Medical team to manage any Nigerian patient, as unethical and illegal.
The NMA President, Dr. Francis Faduyile, said: “Our stand has not changed, and we still insist that there is nothing that they (Chinese) want to offer that can improve what we have on the ground.
“There are so many things that we need to put into consideration, because it is a war affecting ordinary Nigerians, and sometimes, you look at the risk and benefits.
“Our members will look at what is on the ground; if we are doing what we are doing, and they (Chinese) do not interfere with us, we will continue doing what we are doing for Nigerians.
“We cannot now precipitously make a decision. We are an Association that is bounded by ethics and rules. In a very short while, you will hear our decision.”
NARD President, Dr. Sokomba Aliyu, said that while the Association is not against donations, the Experts cannot attend to any Nigerian patient, because they do not have the license to practice in Nigeria.
“We do not need their hands, as we are not overwhelmed, and can take care of our patients.
“So far, they have also stated that they are not coming to attend to patients, so we cannot say categorically, if their words are anything to go by.
“While they (Officials) have gone ahead to welcome the Chinese, we are hopeful that the Chinese will have nothing to do with our patients, because if they proceed to involve the Chinese in the management of our patients, we will just leave the patients for the Chinese to continue.
“As it is now, we are going to be watchful and wait for them to see how far they are engaging the Chinese, and to what extent they are going to be managing our patients”, Aliyu said.
