Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), through its subsidiary China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is supporting Nigeria in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that is adversely affecting livelihoods and economies across the world, by making available necessary medical equipment and health consumables.
Assisted by the Nigerian Government, CCECC is delivering amongst others around 16-tons of test kits, ventilators, disinfection machine, disposable medical masks, N95 masks, medicines, rubber gloves, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, infra-red thermometers and other critical care items, through a chartered flight operated by Air Peace.
In a press statement obtained by The Sight News, The MD CCECC Nigeria, Micheal Jiang noted that the chartered flight which arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on 8 April 2020, conveying the items required by the Nigerian Government, will be handed over by CCECC to relevant authorities.
According to him, “Considering its large number of employees in Nigeria, CCECC at its own cost, dispatched a 15-member working team from CRCC, 12 of whom are experienced medical professionals with expertise in infectious disease, respiratory illness, intensive care, cardiology, neurology, general surgery and anesthesiology. Members of the team also have relevant experience in the prevention and diagnosis of the COVID-19.
“All members of the working team have tested negative to COVID-19 and shall commence their stay in Nigeria by undertaking 14 days in quarantine. The primary purpose of the working team is to escort the medical supply, provide guidance for their usage and distribution”.
Furthermore, he noted that the team will also provide CCECC employees with critical and necessary healthcare assistance where necessary, adding that they are also here with adequate PPE and medical items for the employees.
“In addition, under the directive of Chinese Embassy and in response to the Nigeria Government’s request, the working team may also share with Nigerian medical teams effective methods on how to contain the COVID-19 and provide advice on the use of relevant medical equipment”, he remarked.
He stressed that the team is not in Nigeria to treat Covid-19 patients.
“Finally, in keeping with its corporate value, “Stride with Nigeria”, CCECC is participating in the construction of two COVID-19 response facilities in the FCT for free as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities. The facilities are a 196-bed at “ThisDay Dome Treatment Centre,” in collaboration with Sahara Group and Arise News; and the 150-bed “Idu Depot Treatment Centre”, he ended.
This support he noted, is with the backing of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and People’s Republic of China.
