Beijing: China has announced to send in Chinese experts to assist Pakistani health workers in their fight against coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Zeng Yixin – Vice Minister of China’s National Health Commission, stated, “As required by Pakistani side, China is preparing a medical team to visit Pakistan and this team of experts will pay field trips to different localities in Pakistan.”
China has already shared COVID-19 related knowledge, prevention and control plan, and diagnosis and treatment plan with Pakistan since the virus outbreak in the country.
Acknowledging Pakistan’s support to China against the coronavirus, Deng Boqing, Vice Chairman of China International Development Cooperation Agency said that as China was fighting the epidemic at home, Pakistan extended great support.
Deng said the two countries were facing similar challenges and China was ready to share its experience with Pakistan and provide Pakistan with badly needed medical supplies.
Pakistan’s foreign office has appreciated China’s effort to support Pakistan amid this crisis. In a statement, Aisha Farooqui – foreign office spokesperson stated, “China has helped Pakistan a great deal in our efforts to contain coronavirus. The medical team will also bring medical equipment from China to strengthen our capacity.”
According to foreign office Beijing’s assistance to Pakistan to fight the pandemic included 12,000 test kits, 300,000 masks, 10,000 protective suits and $4 million to build a hospital.
In addition to it, “A considerable amount of donation from private sources from China is also arriving. Alibaba Foundation has donated 50,000 test kits and 500,000 face masks as well,” she added.
Pakistan has been facing an acute shortage of essential medical equipment required by health care workers to deal with COVID-19 outbreak in the country as hospitals and resources have been overwhelmed due to a continuous surge in coronavirus cases. So far, 1,257 confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported in the country with nine deaths.