Saudi Arabia is providing medical support to China as it strives to contain the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Six separate contracts were signed on Thursday, February 13, 2020 and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre is in charge of coordinating this assistance with the Chinese Embassy located in Saudi Arabia.
The coordinated effort will see Saudi Arabia as providing over 1,150 different medical devices for support in China. These will include defibrillators, infusion pumps, continuous renal replacement therapy, ultrasound machines, infusion pumps, injection pumps, and non-invasive ventilators.
The Saudi Arabian government will also provide medical masks and isolation suits that will be essential in the fight against this outbreak.
Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, said in a news release, “This initiative reflects the strong and long-standing relationship between Saudi Arabia and China.” Dr. Rabeeah also noted that the Kingdom is determined to help fight crises that other countries face whenever it has the opportunity. He stated that “it (the Kingdom) is always aiming to support stability and sustainable development around the world.”
The six contracts, or agreements, will provide China essential medical equipment, diagnostic tools, preventive clothing, and other necessities at the request of the Chinese government.
On February 10, King Salman ordered KSRelief to do everything in its power to provide whatever necessary assistance to the Chinese authorities to tackle this pressing and growing health threat.
According to Dr. Al-Rebeeah, “King Salman responded immediately and the center managed to provide those supplies in a very short time, at a time when most countries are not able to do so and these items will be delivered within five days.”
Saudi Arabian officials (the Saudi Ministry of Health) remarked through Twitter that there are no reported cases of the Coronavirus within the Kingdom and that proper precautionary measures have been taken at all ports to keep the virus from spreading into and throughout the nation.
Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Chen Weiqing made an emotional address to the people of this nation, offering his deep gratitude for the support they are providing. He noted that “the Chinese people are doing their utmost to fight against the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (NCP)” and that at such a critical juncture in the battle against this outbreak, King Salman reached out directly to Chinese President Xi Jinping to offer whatever support the Kingdom could provide.
Wieqing went on to say, “This aid will surely bring a ‘timely rain’ to the medical staff and people in Wuhan and some other affected areas. It reflects the sincere friendship of the Saudi government and people towards the Chinese government and people. It is you who brought love to the hearts of the Chinese people.”
Ambassador Weiqing also commented on the importance and value of the international community coming together to help combat this deadly outbreak. His message was one of unity in an era of globalization. Public health, according to Ambassador Weiqing, is a matter that impacts all mankind and when nations stand together, it is the most powerful force to combat these ongoing medical