By Anna Shilongo
WINDHOEK
A Chinese delegation led by the Vice Governor of Zhejiang province in the People’s Republic of China, Sheng Changli last week donated three ambulances to the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
The donation, which responds to the health needs in the country, will benefit rural areas communities where there are acute shortages of ambulances.
Receiving the donation, Health and Social Services Minister, Dr Richard Nchabi Kamwi assured the delegation the donation would put the ambulances to good use.
“The donation could not have come at a better time. It comes at time when the ministry has experienced a shortage of ambulances,” Kamwi said.
The visiting delegation visited health centres, clinics and two state hospitals in Windhoek.
“We are quite impressed with your services. Your hospitals are clean and patients receive good care. China has so much to learn from Namibia and I hope this visit will strengthen ties between us,” said the Vice Governor.
Changli complimented the ministry for its hard work in fighting the challenges it faces despite many handicaps.
She said since 1996, Zhejiang Province had sent medical practitioners to Namibia, having sent around six teams so far.
” The Chinese government has always cherished the support of the Namibians. Namibia is China’s best friend in Africa, that’s why we feel that we should give our support to our friends once we are developed,” she remarked.
The Vice Governor was hopeful that in future, the two countries would have more exchanges in different fields to consolidate the friendship between the two countries.
She said that although Namibia is a developing country, it is developing fast socially and economically compared to other developing countries.
“Your country is very clean and it has good infrastructure,” Changli said.
The delegation also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister, Nahas Angula.
Welcoming the delegation, Angula briefed it about the country’s economy as well as the challenges facing the health sector.
He applauded the delegation for their efforts to support health services in the country.
Angula said that although the local economy was growing fast, the country still faced serious health problems in many areas.
“Namibia faces high HIV/Aids infection rates, forcing the government to spend large amounts on anti-retroviral drugs,” Angula noted.
He added that the government is working hard to curb the spread of the HIV/Aids pandemic.