China-donated anti-epidemic supplies arrive in Solomon Islands

A new shipment of anti-epidemic supplies provided by the Chinese government arrived in Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, on Feb 18, 2022. 

Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands Li Ming and Minister of Health and Medical Services Hon Culwick Togamana attended the handover ceremony at the airport.

Togamana thanked China for the timely assistance. As the epidemic has spread rapidly, health departments in the Solomon Islands are facing challenges such as a lack of testing capacity, he said.

With the relief supplies from China, the Solomon Islands will be able to enhance its testing and protection capacity and tide over the difficulties, Togamana said. 

Li said at the ceremony that China donated 300,000 novel coronavirus detection reagents, as well as oxygen generators, oximeters, and protective clothing to the Solomon Islands, whose government and people are facing dual challenges brought about by the epidemic and riots. The urgently needed supplies will help the island country enhance the epidemic response and treatment capabilities of its health departments and protect the health of its people, Li added.

The detection reagents and oxygen generators were sent by the Chinese central government, while the personal protective equipment was allocated from the China-Pacific Island Countries Reserve of Emergency Supplies by the government of southern China's Guangdong province, according to Li.

He said China has taken concrete measures to develop its relations with the Solomon Islands and strives to promote peace, stability and prosperity of the entire Pacific region, which is in the common interests of all parties. 

China is ready to further strengthen cooperation and exchanges in various fields with the Solomon Islands and jointly create a better future for bilateral relations, Li added.

There was a large-scale outbreak of COVID-19 in the Solomon Islands in mid-January, with a surging number of infections, which has posed severe challenges for epidemic prevention and control.

At the request of the Solomon Islands, the Chinese government has provided several shipments of anti-epidemic supplies and medical equipment assistance, which have played an important role in containing the spread of the epidemic in the country.