Xi Jinping (President, People’s Republic of China)
The government of the Peoples’ republic of China has promised to help Africa manage the spread of Corona Virus. To make due of this promised the Chinese president said that they will supply African first with any vaccine that they are able to develop against Covid-19 free of charge.
Currently China is leading the race in the development of a vaccine for the deadly virus and their scientists are mainly hoping on a technology that has been in use for decades. A group of Chinese researchers released a statement few weeks ago stating that there have been significant success of the tests conducted among animals where as another group was sighting success in human trials.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), five out of ten potential vaccines undergoing clinical tries have been developed by Chinese scientist, whereas the sixth vaccine undergoing trials was born out of a partnership between a German Biotechnology firm and a Chinese company.
The president of China Xi Jinping, during an online Covid-19 forum with the leaders of many African Nations, this past Thursday said – “We gathered here with our new and old friends through video to discuss anti-epidemic cooperation and cement China-Africa brotherhood.”
African medical personnel will be happy to hear that China will supply the Covid-19 vaccine to Africa at zero cost once it is found.
He further said ““We are making good on our promises at the earlier Beijing summit with concrete efforts, as well as contributing to the global anti-epidemic cooperation. We believe that humans will defeat the epidemic ultimately, and Chinese and African people will definitely live a better life.” President Xi also said that the Chinese construction of a new Africa Center of Disease Control headquarters would be started ahead of schedule this year. Irrespective of the pandemic and that China would drive the Group of 20 to slow down debt repayment for African countries.
According to a state media report, China has sent 80 million masks, ten 10,000 ventilators, and 30 million testing kits, with teams of experts to assist Nations in the fight against Covid-19.
As at June 19th, 2020 Africa has recorded a total of 276,566 Corona Virus cases; with 7,426 deaths; and 127,799 recoveries. So far according to existing statistics, Africa has been managing the spread of the pandemic very well, and the promise of getting a vaccine free from the Chinese government will be a welcomed development.
Image credit: BBC.
