China donates medical supplies to Zanzibar to help fight COVID-19

Chinese Consul General in Zanzibar Xie Xiaowu and the Minister of State of the 2nd Vice President's Office from the government of Zanzibar Mohamed Aboud Mohamed attended the handover ceremony of Chinese medical supplies on May 8.

The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) to Zanzibar, permanent secretary of the 2nd Vice President's Office, director of the Disaster Management Department (DMD) in Zanzibar and Yang Xiaodong, head of the Chinese medical team to Zanzibar, were also present at the ceremony.

Xie said that China and Zanzibar have a tradition of friendship through thick and thin. China feels for the pandemic challenges faced by Zanzibar at the moment, stands firmly with the people of Zanzibar and has overcome difficulties such as domestic pandemic challenges and limited international transportation to offer medical assistance to Zanzibar.

The Chinese medical experts held a videoconference to share anti-pandemic experience with the medical workers in Zanzibar on April 28, demonstrating the profound friendship of the two sides amid the difficulties. The medical supplies provided by China included medical masks, protective clothing and infrared thermometers and will help local medical workers fight against the virus, said Xie.

The virus recognizes no borders and is the common enemy of all humankind. Only with solidarity and cooperation can we defeat the virus at an early date. Based on the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, China stands ready to enhance pandemic cooperation with all international societies in a spirit of helping each other until a full victory against the virus is secured, added Xie.

Aboud said that the China-Zanzibar friendship forged by the old generation of leaders of the two sides still benefits the two peoples. China has long been helping Zanzibar with economic and social development and has become a main development partner of Zanzibar. The pandemic is spreading, and President Ali Mohamed Shein and Second Vice President of Zanzibar Seif Ali Iddi are leading the people of Zanzibar in the fight against it.

On behalf of the government of Zanzibar, Aboud thanked China for overcoming difficulties to provide assistance at this tough moment. The government of Zanzibar will make sure the medical supplies are sent to the anti-pandemic front line and work with other countries and regions with solidarity and unity to win the battle against the virus at an early date.

The WHO representative to Zanzibar spoke highly of China’s international humanitarianism in donating medical supplies to Zanzibar. He also said he hopes that Zanzibar will obtain more anti-pandemic assistance from international sources and strengthen communication with the WHO to defeat the virus at an early date.