High-level officials from the Ethiopian government and other African countries and organizations on Sunday commended China's support to Africa's ongoing fight against the COVID-19 global pandemic.
China, which is also presently fighting against COVID-19 at home, is winning acclaim from across the African continent for its solidarity and support to African countries and regional organizations in the continent's fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of China's support to Africa's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, Chinese experts and officials from health and customs departments had shared information and experience about COVID-19 in a video conference with officials and healthcare specialists from Africa CDC and 24 African countries, showing commitment to sharing experience and supporting Africa in the fight against the pandemic.
Speaking to Xinhua on Sunday, Ethiopia's Minister of Health, Lia Tadesse, stressed that the China's support to the East African country and other fellow African countries in the fight against COVID-19 ranges from material support to experience and knowledge sharing endeavors.
China has delivered testing reagents to African countries via Africa CDC and emergency supplies to countries affected, with Chinese medical teams also helping fight the epidemic on the continent.
In addition to the Chinese government's solidarity with Africa on the face of COVID-19, Chinese companies and civil organizations are also providing urgently needed supplies to African countries.
On Sunday, the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed commended the Chinese Huajian International shoe factory for its support to the East African country's efforts in containing the spread of the COVID-19 through material donation to the Ethiopia and other African countries.
"Grateful to Huajian International for donating anti-epidemic supplies in support of Ethiopia's COVID-19 prevention efforts. Ethiopia looks to similar benevolent acts by partners as we work diligently in preventing the spread," Ahmed said.
Also on Sunday, high-level officials from the Ethiopian government, Africa CDC, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ethiopian Airlines Group has witnessed the arrival of the first shipment of medical relief donated by the Jack Ma Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation to support Africa on the face of COVID-19.
They include 5.4 million face masks, kits for 1.08 million detection tests, 40,000 sets of protective clothing and 60,000 sets of protective face shields, according to the Jack Ma Foundation. The supplies will first be distributed to countries throughout Africa which are particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier this week, the foundations had announced their commitment to donating 100,000 medical masks, 20,000 test kits and 1,000 protective suits and face shields to each of the 54 nations on the African continent.
Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, told Xinhua on Sunday that the donation is an exemplary move, serving as a lesson to the rest of the world, showing collaboration and joint efforts in the battle against the epidemic.
"The message is very important. It is a very good example for all over the world that feel panic and blame is not the answer. The answer is organizations, countries, institutions, and governments bringing their resources together to team up to provide this kinds of medical supplies medical equipment for the protection of the people. So, this is a very good example," Gebremariam said.
Speaking to Xinhua, Deputy Director of Africa CDC, Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, stressed that the Chinese government has placed its experience on the table for African countries to be able to see and use in their fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.
"Right now that China has already done a very big effort in controlling this outbreak," Ouma told Xinhua."We are very impressed by the reduction in the numbers."
The Africa CDC Deputy Director also stressed that "the experience that China has undergone is very important for us, because ours is just starting, while in China it is ending. That experience is very important."
Ouma further stressed that the Africa CDC, a specialized healthcare agency of the African Union (AU), "is working very closely with China CDC to ensure that Africa CDC is better prepared to support countries, and also to ensure that African countries are also learning from the experience of China."
