August 19, 2021
By: James Kamara-Manneh
The Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone has on the on the 18th of August, 2021 at a presentation ceremony held at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation conference hall in Freetown handed over 200,000 vials of COVID-19 vaccine, 201,600 pieces of syringes, 40,000 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Nucleic Acid Diagnostic Kits (PCR-Fluorescence Probing) and 50,000 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Antigen Detection Kits (Latex Method) to the government of Sierra Leone.
Before handing over the package, the Chinese Ambassador, Hu Zhangliang said that this donation is meant to support Sierra Leone in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic and it is one of China’s concrete actions in implementing relevant commitments made by H.E. President Xi Jinping at the Virtual Opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly and the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19.
He added that the Chinese government and people have provided at least 13 rounds of donation to Sierra Leone for COVID-19 response. This vividly demonstrates the solid friendship between our two countries, it has been observed.
It has been disclosed that the donated Chinese vaccine has been included into the WHO emergency use list.
The Chinese Ambassador further stated that over 1.9 billion doses of Chinese vaccine have been administered. A-Z has gathered that the safety and efficacy of the Chinese vaccine has been proven by scientific data.
“I firmly believe that this donation will help beef up Sierra Leone’s tenacious efforts in combating the pandemic and contribute to the final victory. I have no doubt that the donated items will be taken good care of and put into good use as usual by the Sierra Leonean side,” Ambassador Hu said.
He said China will continue to work with all parties including Sierra Leone to build a global community of health for all.
In response whilst accepting the items, the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby thanked the Ambassador and the people’s Republic of China. He expressed gratitude for the sustained bond between both countries and promised the Ambassador and China to work tirelessly in combating the virus and using the items. He vouched that the relationship between both countries will continue to exist to be ever stronger.
The chairman of NACOVERC, Mr. Sheku Bangura, acknowledged the relationship that exists between both countries. He recalled the donations of items that were received few months ago from the Chinese governments to aid Sierra Leone in the fight against Covid-19.
A representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Internal Corporation expressed his appreciation on behalf of the ministry over the contributions and the efforts made by the Chinese government to Sierra Leone.
He alluded to the recent celebrations of the two countries over the 100yrs of achievements and 50yrsof bilateral relationship and friendship.
Members of the fourth Estate were opportune to pose questions; prominent among the questions was the validity period of the vaccines donated. Ambassador Hu said that the expiration date will be on or before June 28th, 2023 depending on its usage. He encouraged all who are yet to take their first jab or second to hurriedly do so as the vaccines are efficacious.
The program climaxed with the signing of documents relating to the donations.