China Donates $5.5m Drugs to Country

By Onwuka Nzeshi
Abuja

The People's Republic of China has donated drugs and medical equipment worth $5.5million to Nigeria over the last five years. It has also provided assistance in the implementation of water supply projects, which includes 589 boreholes in 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory. It has also being training more than 1,000 Nigerian technicians annually in the last five years.

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Xu Jianguo, disclosed this in Abuja, yesterday while presenting a fresh consignment of anti-malaria drugs to the Ministry of Health. Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange, received the drugs on behalf of the Federal Government.

Jianguo described the gesture as a way of promoting friendly relations and boosting economic cooperation between the two countries, adding that the provision of medicines and equipment to fight avian influenza and malaria would help Nigeria to improve the health and living standards of its people. He said China's assistance was devoid of selfish motives, as the Asian country never attached any political condition or demands to any political al privileges in providing aids to friendly developing countries.

Jianguo expressed hope that the anti-malaria drugs donated will be distributed free of charge to pregnant women, children and others in need of it.

Grange also received drugs worth N5million from Greenlife Pharmaceuticals, a local pharmaceutical firm, at the same ceremony, and applauded the contributions of China and Greenlife in the Roll Back malaria initiative.

According to her, both Chinese government and the local pharmaceutical firm have been at the forefront of assisting Nigeria in the fight against malaria since the country launched a renewed battle against the disease in 2000.

She lamented that while malaria could be prevented, treated and cured, the scourge has remained intractable, undermining our developmental efforts and imposing heavy burden on poor communities.

One of the major challenges in the country's fight against malaria, Grange said, remains early detection and treatment within 24 hours of onset of symptoms.

Source/Credit:http://www.allafrica.com:Nigeria.