Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Obadiah Moyo, addressed a joint press conference with the visiting Chinese Medical Expert Team last Friday in Harare.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a speech read on his behalf by Dr Moyo expressed his gratitude to the Chinese Medical Expert Team.
“I salute you Dr Yimin Zhu and the rest of your team and please receive our sincere thanks for your visit. I wish you and your entire team a safe journey home and I look forward to meeting you all again in the future,” said President Mnangagwa.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe,Guo Shaochun pointed out that the visit was very beneficial to both parties and thanked medical professionals for their hard work.
“The two weeks have been rewarding for both sides. Chinese experts learnt a lot about how Zimbabwe has been tackling Covid-19 and in return imparts knowledge and experience to the Zimbabwean party.
“I wish to express my great appreciation and respect to the health professionals of both sides on their hard work. We are grateful to His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Zimbabwean Government and people for their warm hospitality,” said Ambassador Shaochun.
Dr Moyo was appreciative of the knowledge imparted by the Chinese and that Zimbabwe was going to use the recommendations made by the Chines in the fight against Covid-19.
“The objective of the visit was to share with us notes and experience on how we can navigate out of the current pandemic of COVID-19. They shared their COVID-19 experience and expressed their desire to help Zimbabwe overcome the challenge. The team shared their experiences with the Ministry of Health officials about the pandemic and the take home message was that COVID-19 is a community disease and everyone should be sensitised to it.
“I am happy to advise that a lot of experience and exchange of notes was shared with the Chinese Medical Expert Team. What is pleasing is the fact that the strategy being implemented in Republic China is more or less the same strategy which the Government of Zimbabwe is employing,” said Dr Moyo.
“Furthermore, the Chinese Medical Expert Team has made quite useful recommendations which will be adopted by my Ministry as we continue to seek ways and means that will make us ready and be able to prevent the attack and challenge posed by COVID-19, said the Health Minister.
The 12 member Chinese Medical Expert Team being led by Dr Zhu arrived in the country on 11 May 2020, on medical exchange programme and to assist their Zimbabwean counterparts to combat Covid-19. The team visited Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Harare Provinces. They also donated two ventilators, masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) to Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital among other medical consumables donated to other medical institutions.
