Chinese medical experts arrive in Sao Tome and Principe to help fight COVID-19

Chinese medical experts arrive in Sao Tome and Principe on May 31 to help fight COVID-19. [Photo/CCTV]

A Chinese medical expert team arrived in Sao Tome and Principe on May 31 to help the country combat COVID-19.

Chinese Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe Wang Wei, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities Elsa Pinto and Health Minister Edgar Neves of Sao Tome and Principe welcomed the Chinese experts at the airport.

On behalf of the government of Sao Tome and Principe, Pinto welcomed the Chinese experts and thanked the Chinese government and people. The country's pandemic situation is still at a serious stage and the medical team sent by the Chinese government fully demonstrates the friendship and solidarity between the two countries. China’s sincerity in helping Sao Tome and Principe brings new results in their joint cooperation.

The medical team covers the whole anti-pandemic process. The Chinese experts have accumulated rich frontline anti-pandemic experience in China, as well as experience from the fights against pandemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo. It is believed that Sao Tome and Principe will improve its anti-pandemic capability and lift the country's pandemic diagnosis and treatment level through communications and exchanges with the Chinese medical team.

Pinto particularly thanked China for upholding the spirit of international solidarity and cooperation, making it more convenient for the World Health Organization (WHO) to send technical personnel to Sao Tome and Principe. It solved problems that had bothered the country for weeks and helped put the most-needed virus laboratory into use as soon as possible.

Wang said that the Chinese government actively responded to the request of the government of Sao Tome and Principe at its difficult moment in fighting the virus and urgently sent a medical team to the country. The arrival of the Chinese experts demonstrates the Chinese people’s deep brotherly friendship to the people of Sao Tome and Principe. It is also a concrete action to implement the initiative of building a community of health for all.

During their stay, the Chinese experts will visit Sao Tome island and Principe island, share anti-pandemic experience with their counterparts from Sao Tome and Principe and experts sent by the WHO and contribute China's strength to the fight in Sao Tome and Principe against the pandemic.

The 12-member team, organized by the National Health Commission and selected by the Hebei Provincial Health Commission, had just finished their mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.

The experts specialize in infectious diseases, respiratory disorders, critical care, nursing, traditional medicine, laboratory testing and imaging, infectious disease control, and public health.