China donates more equipment to help in COVID fight

Barbados’ COVID-19 fight has been boosted with a donation of BDS$697 000 in equipment from the Chinese government to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

Today, during a handing over ceremony at the QEH, Minister of Health and Wellness Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic announced that China’s newest donation to the island’s healthcare sector included six invasive ventilators, 10 blood oxygen saturation monitors, electrocardiogram (ECG), five oxygen generators and eight sputum excretion machines.

He said he was particularly pleased with the donation of the ECG equipment which is an important addition to the national cardiology project, that is being spearheaded by the QEH to create a partnership between private and public urgent care centres, including the ambulance services.

“To be able to contribute to enhancing all services relating to cardiac arrest, in relation to strokes, with the aim of reducing mortality here in Barbados, this is something that is very important to the Government, the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” Bostic said.

The Health Minister said the donated equipment would assist the QEH in replacing aged equipment currently in use. He added that the Government has also made a multi-million-dollar injection into the hospital to assist with the change out of old equipment and the introduction of new equipment.

Chinese Ambassador Yan Xiusheng said the donation, the ninth such gift from China, is to assist Barbados in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he was delighted to see that under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and the great efforts of Barbadians, the pandemic has been mitigated greatly.

Xiusheng said: “I wish and truly believe that Barbados could win the battle against the pandemic and bring its economy and social life back to normal soon. China is willing to keep providing more assistance to the best of its capacity to Barbados, including the donation of 30 000 doses and purchase of 50 000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine, experience sharing on fighting the Coronavirus, remote treatment and cooperation on Traditional Chinese Medicine . . . .”

During the proceedings, members of the fifth visiting Chinese Medical Team (CMT) attached to the QEH, who arrived on the island in December 2020, received an official welcome to Barbados, which was delayed due to the pandemic.

Minister Bostic told the nine members of the team that they were following a rich legacy left by their predecessors who all made a significant contribution to the provision of health care services for Barbadians through QEH.

“I do look forward to the continuation of the legacy and also the implementation of traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine, which will also enhance the delivery of services here. And I am eagerly looking forward, having had a chat with the Ambassador, to the establishment of traditional medicine here which will complement what we do. I am sure that this will benefit our people in a significant way,” Minister Bostic said.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Ambassador noted that since 2016, the CMT has provided local communities with quality medical service while creating touching stories.

He said the doctors’ professional dedication resulted in trust and enthusiasm from local communities and said they deserved the title “goodwill ambassadors” of China to Barbados.

“I hope you carry forward the diligence and fulfilment of the previous teams and adhere to the CMT’s doctrine to defy hardship, pursue dedication, heal the wounded and rescue the dying – great love knows no boundary – to provide the same quality medical service to local communities,” he said. (AH)