Equatorial Guinea VP, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue
MALABO, Feb 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Equatorial Guinea vice-president, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, has announced that he will be the first citizen to receive the coronavirus vaccine.
He made the disclosure when he on Thursday received a consignment of 100,000 doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccines. He said the decision was to raise awareness among the citizenry.
“And to raise awareness among the population, Nguema Obiang Mangue restated that he would be the first citizen in Equatorial Guinea to receive the vaccine,” a statement on the government website stated in part.
The central African oil-producer becomes the first African country to receive the Chinese vaccines. The Asian giant has announced donations to some African countries whiles other countries have announced purchase agreements.
It was a donation from the Beijing Government with the intention of further strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation which unite the two countries.
With the first 100,000 doses for 50,000 people, which represents 4% of the population of Equatorial Guinea, the first phase of the Vaccination Plan will be implemented, prioritising health personnel, those at high risk of mortality and those who work on the main borders of the country.
The country had donated 2 million dollars to China a year ago when the coronavirus began spreading in Wuhan. Africa recorded its first case on Feb 14, 2020 in Egypt.
Equatorial Guinea is one of Africa’s least impacted countries with less than 6,000 cases and 87 deaths as at Feb 11. — NNN-AGENCIES
