The Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian has reacted to the backlash against Chinese Doctors who arrived Nigeria to help the country fight against COVID-19.
Zhou Pingjian said the Chinese Doctors wanted to genuinely help Nigeria fight the virus as a reciprocatory gesture considering the support China has enjoyed from the country in recent times.
He disclosed Nigeria demonstrated strong solidarity when China began the fight against containing and curbing the widespread of COVID-19. He said the only way to reciprocate such gesture was to send medical experts to help the country tackle the pandemic.
Noting that the expense incurred in bringing in the Doctors and equipments cost$2m, Ambassador Pingjian stated he could not understand the reason for the backlash.
“I am struggling to understand the logic; for us, at the most difficult stage of our fight, we received support from Nigeria, it is time for us to reciprocate the friendship and the kindness.
“This is the first time I met the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, since early February and I appreciate the strong support for us from him and the government.
“For the government and Chinese businesses, what we are trying to do is to address the concerns of our dear friends.
“According to the information the CCECCE gave to me, the value of the equipment and medical supplies is around $1.5 million and including the other costs like the flight it is around $2 million,”
“The lockdown in Wuhan lasted 76 days, since January Wuhan had been in lockdown, today has been the very first day that the lockdown has been lifted.
“One key measure for us to fight the Covid-19 is to try every means to break the chain of transmission,”
Nigeria Medical Association and National Association of Resident Doctors have also said Chinese Doctors have no licence to practice in Nigeria.