VIENTIANE, Mar 30 (NNN-KPL) – A team of Chinese medical experts, along with medical materials, arrived in the Laotian capital, Vientiane, by a chartered plane Sunday, to assist Laos to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Somdy Douangdy, Lao deputy prime minister and chair of the Task Force Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, and Chinese Ambassador to Laos, Jiang Zaidong, received the Chinese medical experts at the Wattay International Airport in Vientiane.
The Chinese medical team includes experts in various fields, such as, infection prevention and control, intensive care, epidemics, and laboratory testing. They also brought along with them medical supplies.
The team came to Laos less than five days after the Lao side announced its first two confirmed COVID-19 cases, and asked for assistance from China.
Laos detected eight confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Saturday afternoon.
When welcoming the Chinese experts, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somdy said, the Lao side is grateful for the Chinese medical team’s coming, only in five days after Laos confirmed COVID-19 cases. China’s gesture reflects the profound friendship from the Chinese side to the Lao people, he said.
The medical team, made up of top experts in China’s southwestern Yunnan Province, brought Chinese experiences and solutions to Laos’ epidemic prevention and control, said the Lao deputy prime minister, adding that, the Lao government will coordinate and ensure all possible conveniences for the Chinese medical expert team.
Somdy said, the Lao side will make full use of the intellectual support and material assistance brought by the Chinese side, and will try its best to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.
Huang Xingli, head of the Chinese medical team, said on arrival that, the main tasks of the team are to share experiences and exchange with Lao local hospitals and experts, to introduce China’s anti-epidemic experience, to provide consultation to the Lao side on epidemic prevention and control, diagnosis and treatment and laboratory work, and to provide training and guidance for Lao medical staff and community staff.
Along with the team also came medical treatment, protective supplies and a batch of Chinese and Western medicines donated by China’s Yunnan Province.
Laos announced the first two confirmed COVID-19 cases on Mar 24. The total number has risen to eight.– NNN-KPL
