By John Okeke
The royal kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its high commission in Nigeria has made a donation of over one million Dollar worth of medical equipment’s to the Nigerian government to aid in combating the ramifications of the COVID-19 epidemic.
The Saudi Arabian high commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Faisal Ibrahim Alghamdi made the hand over in Abuja on Tuesday.
The items include 23 ventilators, 25,000 surgical sterile gowns, 125,000 non-sterile surgical gowns,188,000 KN95 masks,1,606,700 Surgical mask and 9500 nitrile gloves.
The envoy while addressing the press said that the ties between the both countries is historic and ought to be taking to a greater height.
He said that the government of Saudi Arabia has been contributing before now towards the improvement of the Nigerian health sector.
He said that the kingdom is planning a twelve voluntary medical campaigns.
Eleven are for combatting blindness and it causes in Nigeria while one is for catheterization and heart surgery.
The minister of health, Dr Osagie Ehanire who was represented by the Permanent Secretary federal ministry of health, Alhaji Abdulazizi Mashi Abdulahi expressed gratitude to the Saudi Arabian government for always extending a hand of fellowship to the Nigerian government.
Mr Mashi also stated the federal government readiness to make positive use of the donated items for its main course.
It will also be recalled that the kingdom through king Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and in collaboration with Al-Basar international foundation in October 2019 launched a voluntary medical campaign for combatting blindness and its cause in Nigeria.
The campaign diagnosed about 8000 patients with glaucoma and cataract, six hundred and ninety four surgeries conducted and more than a thousand medical glasses distributed to patients.
