China donates PPEs for Covid-19 relief

By Tracy Tafirenyika

CHINA this week donated PPEs (personal protective equipment) valued at N$4,3 million to be used by healthcare workers in the Ministry of Health and Social Serviceas.

Health Minister, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula said the donation would be vital to ward off the Covid-19 epidemic.

“Our health workers and other frontline cadres are our most valuable assets.

As a Ministry, and in our efforts to safeguard the safety of the frontline cadres against the Covid-19 infection, the supply of sufficient stock of the correct PPEs is coupled with training of these cadres on infection prevention and control measures. Prevention is the only weapon we have to fight this disease.”

Shangula highlighted that this donation strengthens the countries’ relationship as Namibia also received technical support and capacity building through virtual trainings in surveillance and case management from China.

“This was a golden opportunity to draw from the strength, lessons learned and expertise of China in controlling and managing this deadly pandemic.

“Although Namibia’s infrastructure is incomparable to China, the lessons learnt equipped Namibia to go a long way in halting the transmission for weeks and containing it in one locality.

The fight against Covid-19 is a path that no individual, society or country will defeat fighting alone.

We will all need to draw from each other’s strengths. The technical support, capacity building and donations from China are highly appreciated,” he said.

The donation includes face and surgical masks, medical disposal protective clothing, medical protective gloves among other items.