By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, Aug. 23 (232News) – The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone H.E. Ambassador Hu Zhangliang has called on the international community to join hands in promoting fair and reasonable deployment of vaccine as many developing countries are still facing severe vaccine shortage.
Ambassador Hu made this called while presenting 200,000 vials of COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Sino-pharm, 201,600 pieces of syringes, 40,000 Novel Coronavirus Nucleic Acid Diagnostic Kits and 50,000 Novel Coronavirus Antigen Detection Kits donated by the Chinese government to Sierra Leone.
The donated items were presented on Wednesday 18th July to the Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Austin Demby at the Ministry’s conference room, Youyi Building, Freetown in the presence of WHO Country Director, Chairman of NaCOVERC Dr. Sheku. F. Bangura and other dignitaries, friends and representatives.
Ambassador Hu went on to say H.E. President Xi Jinping has solemnly announced on several important occasions that China would make its vaccine a global public good and promote the accessibility and affordability of vaccine in developing countries.
“China works the talk. To date, China has provided over 700 million vials of COVID-19 vaccine to the world, which is more than all other countries combined.”
On August 5, 2021 China successfully hosted the first meeting of the International Forum on COVID-19 Vaccine Cooperation. H.E President Xi Jinping delivered a written speech to the meeting and announced that China would strive to provide 2 billion doses of vaccine to the world throughout this year and contribute 100 million U.S. dollars to COVAX for the distribution of vaccine to developing countries.
At this forum, China and other 22 countries issued the Joint Statement of the International Forum on COVID-19 Vaccine Cooperation, advocating equitable global distribution of vaccines.
“While the world is in dire need of cooperation and mutual help in combating the pandemic, some western countries are not only busy hoarding vaccine and stressing “national priority” in vaccine distribution, but also busy discrediting China and politicizing the issue of the origin tracing of the COVID-19 virus. They deliberately downplay the important role, great success, huge sacrifice and significant contribution China has made in the fight against the pandemic. They choose to turn a blind eye to the fact that China has participated in the international cooperation on origin tracing study of the virus with an open attitude and invited WHO experts to China twice to conduct joint research on the origin tracing. They create rumors and add pressure on the WHO to conduct a so-called second phase investigation with an attempt to advance their agenda of “presumption of guilt” and defaming China. China will never accept such attempts and activities. The whole world should stand up to oppose the spread of such political viruses.”
He emphasized that in fighting the pandemic and tracing the origin of the virus, they need cooperation not smears, truth not lies, respect for science not political manipulation. All other places that are suspected to be the origin of the virus should also be investigated.
“China will continue to exert efforts with all parties including Sierra Leone to build a global community of health for all,” he assured.
A similar called was also made by Sierra Leone Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Austin Demby.
