Despite stiff opposition from the Nigerian populace and Nigerian Medical Association, Chinese doctors, other medical team and medical aids are expected to arrive Nigeria today, April 8, 2020 to assist in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The visiting 15-member medical team from China will arrive the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on a chattered Air Peace aircraft.
The personnel, who are experts in infectious diseases, respiratory illness, intensive care, cardiology, neurology, general surgery and anesthesiology, will be coming with their drugs, and equipment to carry out COVID-19 tests on the staff of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in the country.
The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, the main contractor handling the rail modernisation programme of the federal government, facilitating the assistance of the medical experts announced Tuesday night in a statement in Abuja.
Among the materials which will be arriving the country through a chartered flight by a local air carrier, Air Peace, includes 16-tons of test kits, ventilators, disinfection machine, disposable medical masks, masks, medicines, rubber gloves, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, infra-red thermometers and other critical care items.
The Executive Director, CCECC, Mr Jacques Liao dispelled what he described as the controversy about the team’s visit, stating that “the primary purpose of the team is to provide CECC employees with critical and necessary healthcare.”
He added, “All members of the working team have tested negative for COVID-19 and shall commence their stay in Nigeria by spending 14 days in quarantine.
“The primary purpose of the team is to provide CCECC employees with critical and necessary health care assistance. They are also coming with adequate personal protective equipment and medical items for the employees.”
In keeping with our 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. The facilities are a 196-bed “ThisDay Dome Treatment Centre,” in collaboration with Sahara Team and Arise News; and the 150-bed “Idu Depot Treatment Centre.”
