Medical experts from China have arrived Sunday in the Philippines to help in the country’s efforts to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr said.
China sent a team composed of 10 medical experts and two officials to “share technical advice on the prevention and control” of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
“The Chinese experts arrived with invaluable firsthand experiences to share on fighting and containing Covid. Thank you China,” Locsin said in a tweet.
The medical team, the first among three to be sent by China to Southeast Asian countries, have “front line experience in Hubei province” where the virus originated, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said.
“I hope the arrival of this team will help the Philippines to improve its ability of epidemic prevention and control as well as diagnosis and treatment, so as to boost the confidence of the public in overcoming the COVID-19,” Ambassador Huang Xilian said, at the turnover ceremony.
“Virus respects no borders. During the time of crisis, the Chinese government and people feel keenly for the health and safety of the Filipino people. We will always stand together with the Philippine government and people to cope with the challenges and overcome the epidemic,” the Chinese ambassador said.
Together with Medical Expert Team, the Chinese Government also donate another batch of medical supplies to the Philippines, including 300,000 surgical masks, 30,000 medical N95 masks, 5,000 medical protective suits, 5,000 medical face shields, and 30 non-invasive ventilators.
The Chinese Medical Expert Team to the Philippines is among the first three teams sent by the Chinese government to ASEAN countries. Most of the team members have had front line experience in Hubei province to fight against the epidemic.
Manila had asked the help of China on the pandemic after the economic giant saw a slowdown in its virus cases, the Department of Health earlier (DOH) said.
China earlier sent protective gear and COVID-19 testing kits to the Philippines. /Stacy Ang
