ADDIS ABABA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- As the Chinese medical experts joined their Ethiopian counterparts in the fight against COVID-19 on Thursday, Ethiopians across different walks of lives are commending the move as a great demonstration of solidarity to deal with the COVID-19 response in Ethiopia.
The Chinese anti-pandemic medical expert team with 12 members specializing in various public health sectors arrived in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Thursday afternoon as part of the China's continuing solidarity in assisting the East African country on the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It is a precious gesture of brotherhood and togetherness demonstrated by the Chinese government in general and the twelve medical professionals in particular," Mahlet Dinku, a 27-years-old Ethiopian medical science student, told Xinhua on Saturday.
Dinku also emphasized the "selfless deed and sacrifice exhibited by the Chinese anti-pandemic medical experts' team "to come all the way from China to Ethiopia to help us cope with the COVID-19 outbreak."
She further underscored the crucial timing of the latest Chinese assistance, as she underscored that "we sincerely welcomed them as they arrived here while we as a nation are bracing for practically the most difficult time of our recent history."
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across Ethiopia and beyond the African continent, the Chinese anti-pandemic medical experts' team was dispatched by the Chinese government upon the request of the Ethiopian government. The team will be working in Ethiopia for 15 days as planned.
Public health and economic analysis are currently voicing their concern regarding the lack of first-hand experience in COVID-19 response. In this regard, the Chinese medical experts emphasized their resolve to apply their well-articulated experience to support the East African country's fight against COVID-19.
Noting that Ethiopia and other fellow African countries are now experiencing a rising rate of COVID-19, Zeng Zhiyong, a member of the Chinese medical experts' team and a chief physician specialized on infection-control, stressed that "now is the moment to effectively contend the spread of the virus before its further spread."
"The team members will spare no efforts in fulfilling their mission by way of in-depth exchanges of close to three-months experiences with Ethiopian experts and officials," said Zeng, who is also the head of infection-control department at West China Hospital Sichuan University.
The healthcare professionals are also expected to provide advice on prevention and control of COVID-19 with local hospitals. The team also arrived in Ethiopia carrying urgently needed medical supplies including protective equipment, and traditional Chinese medicine that has been tested effective by clinical practice.
Ethiopian Ministers of Health, Lia Tadesse, after welcoming members of the Chinese medical team also emphasized the crucial role that the Chinese medical experts' team would play in Ethiopia's efforts to contend the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The highly trained experts and professionals who have been active in COVID-19 response in China and with frontline experience came here along with support from the Chinese government," Tadesse told Xinhua. Enditem
