As part of efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana, the Chinese government, today donated urgently-needed and life-sustaining medical supplies to the Ministry of Health in a short ceremony at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra.
The medical supplies include 3,000 N95 Protective Face Masks, 10,000 Protective Face Masks, 2500 Disposable Coveralls, 800 Infrared Thermometers, 2,500 Medical Goggles, 10,000 Single Use Gloves and 10,000 Disposable Shoe Covers.
The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, accompanied by the Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway thanked the Chinese government for supporting Ghana and other African countries in these critical times.
Mr. Agyeman-Manu said government had already embarked on an initiative to produce locally manufactured gears. “About five local companies have been contracted to sew protective face masks and coveralls” he added. The Minister disclosed that, within the next ten days, government will be taking delivery of 3.6 million face masks from locally manufacturing companies.
For Ghana, the donation comes at a crucial time when frontline health workers and hospitals need medical supplies to aid their work and protect them against contracting the pandemic.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Shi Ting Wang, who made the presentation, noted that, even though COVID-19 had caused a global shortage of medical supplies due to great demand, China through this effort hopes to demonstrate its commitment to fighting COVID-19 and strengthening China – Africa relations.
Mr. Wang noted that the donation forms part of China committing 60 metric tons of materials to Ghana and 17 other African countries. The supplies include N95 face masks, medical protective suites, goggles, gloves to medical apparatus like exergen temporal artery thermometer and ventilators. The beneficiary countries, besides Ghana, also include Nigeria, Senegal, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Benin, Republic of Congo, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe.
Some members of the Chinese diplomatic corps and the media were present at the ceremony.
