On June 12, 2020, Ambassador Yan Xiusheng handed over the medical supplies donated by Hunan Provincial People’s Government of China to Barbados. The donation includes 10,000 N95 Respirators, 20,000 Surgical Face Masks, 500 Surgical Protective Gowns and 500 Medical Protective Goggles. Dr. Arthur Phillips-SMOH, (NCD), Senior Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health and Wellness of Barbados and Mr. Nikkolai Cowan, General Manager of DHL Barbados Ltd. attended the hand-over ceremony.
Ambassador Yan said, as H.E. President Xi Jinping stressed, public health crises, with the current COVID-19 as an example, pose a common challenge to humanity. Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to defeat the epidemic. The medical supplies donated by Hunan Province are good examples of China - Barbados cooperation in fighting against COVID-19 hand-in-hand, as well as good examples of China - Barbados long-time friendship since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1977.
Ambassador Yan also mentioned that Hunan Province is in south central of China, with beautiful landscape, profound culture and history as well as strong economic performance. During the past months, Mr. Du Jiahao, the Secretary of CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, H.E. Francois Jackman, Ambassador of Barbados to China and himself have had several deep discussions on how to promote cooperation between Hunan Province and Barbados. The Hunan Provincial People’s government is exploring opportunities of cooperation with Barbados in agriculture, media, tourism, education and other areas.
Dr. Arthur Phillips thanked for the donation from Hunan Province on behalf of the Hon.Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Minister Jeffrey Bostic and the government of Barbados, and saying the donations from China help Barbados well to respond to COVID-19 and demonstrate the friendship between the two countries. Dr. Arthur Philips also thanked the work the Chinese medical team has done in Queen Elizabeth Hospital during the current critical moment, and expected more cooperation with China in healthcare sector in the near future.
3,000 nasopharyngeal swab kits donated by China COMPLANT, the construction contractor of Sam Lord Castle Hotel project in St. Philips.
This donation is the sixth batch of series from China to Barbados. Up to now, China has donated Barbados 57,000 Surgical Masks, 15,000 N95 Respirators, 8,450 Surgical Gloves, 5,030 Medical Goggles, 5,000 Medical Gowns, 3,000 nasopharyngeal swab kits, 1,536 Test Kits, 250 Non-Contact Infrared Thermometers and 3 Ventilators.
