A medical team that authorities say would help fight COVID-19 has arrived from China amidst criticisms by many that Nigeria does not need.
The 15-member team arrived in Nigeria at 5:15 pm on Air Peace aircraft and was welcomed by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Zhou Pingjian; China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Mr. Jacques Liao and officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health.
Nigeria is part of a larger global initiative that would receive Chinese medical experts who would also be sent to Europe, the Middle East and the Persian Gulf among other regions, according to the Africa Report.
In Africa, Algeria received 13 Chinese medical experts and medical equipment worth about US$450,000 last month. The North African country is the first in the continent to benefit from the programme that is sponsored by Chinese corporations support countries to combat the viral infection.
Last week, the plan to bring Chinese medical experts to Nigeria was met with criticism from many Nigerians including professional associations. The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire explained that the medical experts were sponsored by Chinese companies operating in the country. But in spite of the government’s explanation, criticisms continued to build.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) described the move as “ill-timed” and adding that “inviting the Chinese who from available accounts are not out of the woods themselves was an embarrassment to the membership of the association.”
The NMA also said there were many unemployed Nigerian health practitioners whom the government should engage and that the association should have been consulted to grant approvals to any foreign medical practitioner seeking to interact with Nigerian patients.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, in a bid to resolve the issues surrounding the invitation of the Chinese medical experts, met with the two Ministers in charge of health in the country. After the meeting, Mr. Gbajabiamila stated that it was agreed that the medical personnel would be quarantined for 14 days when they arrive Nigeria, they would have no physical contact with any patient and that immigration laws would be complied with.
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