Together We Can Fight Covid-19

The Chinese Government through their First Lady donated medical equipment to her Nigerian counterpart in support of the fight against Covid-19 pandemic


In line with the good relationship existing between Nigeria and Peoples’ Republic of China, the First Lady of China, Prof. Peng Liyuan donated medical equipment to the First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Buhari. The equipment which was delivered last week Wednesday, the 15th of July, through the Deputy Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Zhao Yong was received on behalf of the First Lady by Hajiya Hajo Sani, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs, Office of the First Lady. The items donated include disposable medical masks and infrared thermometers.

The First Lady while appreciating the king gesture of her Chinese counterpart said that the donation was significant and a demonstration that the bilateral relations between Nigeria and China was growing stronger beyond international policies and being extended to local issues concerning the welfare of Nigerians. According to her, the items would support Nigeria’s ongoing efforts in fighting the pandemic, assuring Prof. Peng that the items would be used judiciously and assured that they would get to those they were meant for. She also appreciated the Chinese first lady for keeping to her promise, adding that she had pledged to support African First Ladies in their fight against HIV/AIDs and even extended her collaboration beyond that to the emerging issue of COVID-19.

“Today is a very important day for us and significantly has shown that the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and China is growing stronger and stronger. “Not only on the policy but on local issues that has to do with the welfare of Nigerians. “On this note, we are very grateful, we are happy to receive, like other African countries. “I have been on the fight against Coronavirus since the emergence, and have done everything possible in donating palliatives, medications of different sorts, and face masks to hospitals across the country. “This is an added advantage to what I am doing.”

The Chinese First Lady in her message said that solidarity, cooperation and mutual assistance among countries was crucial to defeating COVID-19, hence the token of support with medical equipment from the government of China. “The sudden onslaught of COVID-19 has posed an enormous challenge to humanity. For countries to defeat the virus, solidarity, cooperation and mutual assistance are crucial.

“At the height of China’s battle against the virus, Nigeria gave solid support to China. This expression of profound friendship will always be remembered. “Today’s donation is a token of friendship towards Nigerian mothers, children and young people. “China and Nigeria are strategic partners. China will continue to support Nigeria’s fight against COVID-19. “With our hands joining together, we have full confidence to defeat this common enemy,” she said. The Chinese First Lady restated the message of Chinese President, Xi Jinping at the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on solidarity against COVID-19 held in June.

She said “humanity will ultimately defeat the virus, and China, and African people are poised to embrace better days ahead.” During the first ladies sideline meeting at the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Sept 2018, Nigeria’s first lady agreed to collaborate with other African first ladies to fight HIV/Aids and other diseases cross Africa. The agreement for the Cooperation between the Nigerian First Lady and her Chinese counterpart was signed in Beijing, China in Sept 2018.

In a related development, against the backdrop of increase in Covid-19 pandemic in the country, the First Lady has called on relevant government stakeholders at federal and state levels to commit funds to the prevention and treatment of all forms of malnutrition, ensuring that all policies and services required for treatment of malnutrition including the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) centres are supported to function optimally particular in this era of Covid-19.

In a press statement by the First Lady through her Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Aliyu Abdullahi, she stated that humanitarian support programmes; private sector Interventions and donations by well-meaning Nigerians should focus on ensuring that food palliatives should factor in the necessary dietary diversifications. These entails adding food commodities like millet, groundnut, beans, soya, etc. According to Her Excellency, malnutrition is one of the major causes of mortality and underdevelopment among children under five in Nigeria before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding, “with the emergence of the pandemic and subsequent restriction of movement, the situation has worsened, resulting in the shortage of food supply. Consequently, this has led to a significant increase in the number of acutely malnourished children requiring urgent attention and collective action”.

“The First Lady strongly believes that making provisions for this category of children is a step towards upholding their rights to good nutrition and their right to life”. She further stated that community stakeholders, families and caregivers should ensure that food items meant for malnourished children are actually given to the children who need them for their health and well-being. “Finally, the First Lady believes that in taking these actions, we as a country will be protecting children from the scourge of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and in the long term, taking steps towards attaining wholistic health of the Nigerian population and in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to leave no one behind”.