China Railway Construction Corporation provides medical expert team to Nigeria in April 2020 (Linked to Project ID#93776)

On April 8, 2020, the China Railway Construction Corporation provided a 15-person medical team to Nigeria. The team consisted of medical workers that specialize in infectious diseases, laboratory work, respiratory studies, and other critical departments. Some of the members are also experienced in COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The team arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria. A ceremony was held at the airport upon their arrival. Zhou Pingjian, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, representatives of the Nigerian Federal Government, and the Nigerian Minister of Health attended the ceremony. On behalf of the federal government, the Minister of Health welcomed the CRCC Epidemic Prevention Working Group and congratulated the Chinese government on their victory in the fight against COVID-19. This medical team also donated anti-epidemic equipment to Nigeria upon their arrival. The details of this donation are captured in Project ID#93776. During their 30-day stay in Nigeria, the medical team will provide epidemic prevention guidance and necessary emergency medical assistance to CRCC employees, provide consultation and guidance to overseas Chinese, and share epidemic prevention experience with Nigerian medical teams. The Nigerian Medical Association criticized this decision to welcome the Chinese doctors as they argued Nigeria did not need external intervention. There has also been some backlash from the Nigerian public and media regarding the work of this medical team within Nigeria.

Number of official sources

4

Number of total sources

38