COVID-19 fight boosted with donation of 1,000 reagent testing kits
The Health Ministry this week received 1,000 COVID-19 reagent testing kits from China at an event held in Windhoek.
Receiving the kits on behalf of the government, the Health Minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula commended the assistance being given by the Chinese government during the time of need.
“We admire and are grateful for the assistance China is giving beyond its own borders,” he said adding that donation of the testing reagents would complement the testing kits acquired by the Namibia Institute of Pathology.
Shangula said the move ensures the further cementing of ties between the two nations.
Chinese ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming who handed over the donation said that more concrete support is expected to come from China as a symbol of the all-weather friendship.
“This donation is part of our assistance,” he said, highlighting that the donation will help strengthen the preparedness against any possible outbreak in the country.
“With the epidemic spreading to Africa rapidly, it is particularly important to help African countries strengthen their capabiliaties of prevention and control. China has achieved interim results in the past two months, and is willing to share its experience in prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment and provide assisstance within capabilities to the global community, especially Africa,” he said.
Meanwhile, Shangula in a weekly update on the situation, urged the nation to remain calm and to cooperate with the Health Ministry and other agencies in a move to defeat and break the transmission of the virulent disease.
Currently, Namibia has recorded two confirmed positive cases, which are currently being monitored and under quarantine. As of Tuesday, the 24 cumulative suspected cases that were reported in Namibia all tested negative, Shangula said.
Caption: Pictured with the donation are Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming (l) and Namibia’s Health Minister, Kalumbi Shangula (r).
