China’s donation of money and medical equipment to hospitals in PNG and the Solomon Islands.
Radio New Zealand today reported that China has donated money and medical equipment to hospitals in both Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, while Australia has also donated expertise, resources and support.
In Port Moresby on Wednesday, the Chinese ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Xue Bing, presented a US$300,000 cheque to PNG’s Foreign Minister Patrick Pruaitch.
Mr Xue said the donation - which was for the Port Moresby General Hospital - was a reciprocal gesture in return for PNG's support since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak in the city of Wuhan.
Mr. Xue added that as well as funding support, China would also provide protective equipment for staff including masks, protective clothing, goggles and temperature sensors, as well as coronavirus testing kits.
However, Mr Xue said the export of the items to PNG would have to wait until current restrictions on air travel were uplifted.
Meanwhile in Honiara, the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, in a statement, said China had donated US$300,000 and 125,000 pairs of gloves to his country's Covid-19 response effort.
Mr Sogavare said the money would be used to purchase Covid-19 testing kits and laboratory equipment.
According to an article in today’s edition of the Island Sun newspaper, two cargo ships have left China and are headed for Honiara with urgently needed medical supplies.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
