The
Chinese ambassador to The Gambia, His Excellency Ma Jianchun on 12 February
2020 met with Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, the minister of Health for the third
time amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19).
The
Chinese diplomat and Gambian Health minister exchanged views on further
strengthening communication and cooperation in preventing the outbreak in The
Gambia.
Ambassador
Ma briefed Dr. Samateh on his meeting with H.E. President Adama Barrow on
Monday, 10 February, during which they discussed at length the joint efforts in
preventing the COVID-19 in The Gambia. He also updated Dr. Samateh on new
measures taken and progress made by the Chinese government in curbing the
outbreak and treating infected patients. As of today, more than 160 medical
teams and over 19,800 medical staff nationwide, including 14,000 nurses and
many military medical personnel, have been dispatched to Hubei province, the
epicenter of the pneumonia outbreak. Now in China, daily number of newly
confirmed infection cases in regions outside Hubei province has been decreasing,
and the number of infected persons traveling from China to other countries has
been brought down to near zero. Ambassador Ma expressed appreciation to the
Gambian government for its consistent solidarity with China in the battle
against the COVID-19 outbreak. From what has been achieved so far, the
Ambassador showed more confidence that China will soon win the battle.
Hon.
Dr. Samateh once again expressed to Ambassador Ma the sympathy and solidarity
from the Gambian side. He commended China for efficiently implementing
effective control measures at home and conducting active cooperation with the
international society since the very beginning of the outbreak. Hon. Dr.
Samateh talked about the Gambia government’s new efforts in keeping the country
free from the COVID-19 outbreak along with The Gambia’s development partners
especially in terms of strengthening entry surveillance, capacity building and
community sensitisation, etc. He expressed confidence that further
communication and cooperation between his ministry and the Chinese Embassy will
result in better prospects in effectively preventing the outbreak in The
Gambia.
Ambassador
Ma spoke highly of the efforts by the Gambian side in preventing the outbreak,
expressed the willingness of the Chinese Embassy to stand together with the
Gambian Ministry of Health in the battle against the novel coronavirus
pneumonia. He further added that a new batch of medical supplies donated by the
Chinese government, aiming at helping strengthening The Gambia’s public health
system, has arrived at Banjul Port.
