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Talent Gore Herald Correspondent

The Chinese government yesterday pledged to assist Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole in the fight against Covid-19.

Chinese medical experts also shared information, experience and its treatment plan on Covid-19, in a video conference with health specialists from over 20 African countries.

China, where the virus originated, is almost clear of the infection with around 70 000 of its just over 80 000 infected people now recovered, its death toll unlikely to go much beyond the 3 200 already recorded and just 10 000 people still being treated.

Passing on the lessons they have learned, the Chinese experts applauded African nations for the measures they had taken to combat the spread of the virus.

They said they have found antiviral therapy, chlorine phosphate, convalescent plasma treatment can be used to mitigate the virus from but safety and dosage should be seriously considered in children, pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers.

They added that poorly ventilated spaces in isolation facilities, shortages of protection equipment and being unable to detect the virus immediately were risk factors of Covid-19.

Director-General of the Department of African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China, Mr Dai Bing, said China was ready to fund African nations with the appropriate equipment and medical expertise.

“While fighting the pandemic at home, we will also continue with African countries and offer support in terms of the necessary equipment, medical teams, training and medicines,” he said.

“Since the outbreak, the Chinese government united as one and took vigorous measures to ensure that we deal with the virus. In Africa, China has close eyes and is ready to provide assistance. Right now medical teams are being mobilised for Africa.

“As China we are very grateful for the support that is being rendered to us by African countries.”

Deputy Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Isaac Phiri, said they were ready to employ the strict measures taken by China against the Covid-19.

“The video-conference by Chines medical experts was informative and it helped us re-evaluate the measures that we have put in place as a country against coronavirus,” he said.

“We are grateful for the help that China has been offering to us. We are trying by all means to follow the route that China took whilst dealing with the pandemic. We will continue engaging China.”

Dr Phiri said there was need for more protective clothing as the available clothing was not adequate.

“We are in need of protective clothing, and the laboratory reagents that the Chinese have been using as we prepare for the virus and we have been very privileged because China has been giving us these from time to time but we still need more,” he said.

City Health Director Dr Prosper Chonzi said in as much as Zimbabwe does not have the experience on how to deal with Covid-19, they were ready to tackle it when it arrives.

“With help that China has been offering us in terms of test kits and protective clothing we will be able to deal with the virus when to enters into the country,” he said. “We are prepared and we will continue to strengthen our preparedness and surveillance system.”