Japan is behind Ethiopia in this fight Three Japanese nationals have recently tested positive for the Corona virus. Thereafter, three more positive cases have been identified. I express my deep sympathies with those people and pray for their speedy recovery. It was unfortunate that the first case was my fellow countryman, but the Embassy is resolved to keep working hard under the guidance of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. We will face the challenge with sincerity and determination. Incidentally, no one is infected or showing symptoms at the Japanese Embassy or the delegation to the Africa Union as of March 19. Japan and Ethiopia have nurtured friendship and goodwill since the establishment of our bilateral relations ninety years ago. The Japanese garden at Jubilee Palace designed by a Japanese garden architect and the now beautified Koshe waste site that made safer by a Japanese professor, are only two of the many manifestations of our close ties. On the basis of our long-standing, mutual trust, I truly hope that our relations will grow even closer. The Ethiopian government and people are now fighting against this formidable challenge. Japan is firmly behind Ethiopia in this fight. We are convinced that together we will win this battle in the near future. Matsunaga Daisuke Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia China›s great contribution in fighting against the outbreak Since the onset of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the Chinese government has taken the most comprehensive and rigorous prevention and control measures with a strong sense of responsibility for people’s health. Thirty-one provinces of municipalities and autonomous regions, initiated a first-level public health emergency response. Dozens of cities have imposed the strictest traffic restrictions. Other measures include canceling festival gatherings, temporarily closing public places, tracking and managing infected or suspected infected people, and temperature detection. All work advances in an scientifically and orderly manner. Many of these measures go well beyond the requirements of the International Health Regulations. On January 30, the Director-General of World Health Organization Dr. Tedros Adhanom declared a public health emergency of international concern over the outbreak. He also pointed out that the Chinese government is to be congratulated for the extraordinary measures it has taken to contain the outbreak, despite the severe social and economic impact those measures are having on the Chinese people. Let me be clear: this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China. On the contrary, World Health Organization continues to have confidence in China’s capacity to control the outbreak. Acting with openness, transparency and in a responsible manner, China has provided timely updates of the outbreak and the genome sequence of the coronavirus. Such efforts are fully recognized and highly commended by the World Health Organization and many countries. China has stayed in close communication and cooperation with the World Health Organization. The World Health Organization experts conducted a field trip to Wuhan. Dr. Tedros visited China and exchanged views on the containment of the outbreak with the Chinese side. He applauded China’s prevention and control efforts and expressed gratitude for China’s great contribution to the world in fighting against the outbreak. China will continue to work with the World Health Organization and other countries to safeguard regional and global public health security. China is confident in and capable of effectively containing the epidemic, and eventually defeating it. The Chinese government has shown solid political resolve and taken timely and effective measures in dealing with the epidemic. The speed and massive scale of China’s response are rarely seen. Just as Dr. Tedros put it, this is the time for facts, not fear; this is the time for science, not rumors; this is the time for solidarity, not stigma. The Chinese side is working closely with the Ethiopian government to prevent the virus from spreading. The Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia have urged Chinese nationals coming to and residing in Ethiopia to fully comply with the screening procedures at the Bole international airport and take strict prevention actions such as self-isolation measures when necessary. Zhang Pengcheng Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia Cuba drug caught attention of several countries Cuba is lending a helping hand as part of the global efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuban drug Interferon Alfa 2B has been successfully used in China as a treatment for the coronavirus. Due to its proven effectiveness against different viruses with similar characteristics and its potential to improve respiratory conditions, the Cuban drug has caught the interest of several countries to counteract the effects and spread of Covid-19. Currently more than 40 countries have requested the medicine for the treatment of the coronavirus patients. The drug, has been used to combat viral infections caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C, and respiratory Papillomatosis. According to Cuban biotech specialist Dr. Luis Herrera Martinez, its use prevents aggravation and complications in patients, reaching that stage that ultimately can result in death. Alongside the request for this Cuban drug several Latin American, Caribbean and European countries have also requested medical aid from Cuba in order to fight the coronavirus outbreak. Cuba has already sent medical team to Italy and has also deployed doctors to Venezuela, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Suriname and Grenada to support those countries Covid-19 containment strategy. Alongside with putting its biotechnology development to the service of treatment for this pandemic, Cuba has also stepped in with practical measures at international level amidst the near-collapse health care situation in a number of countries in the face of coronavirus pandemic. Another show of solidarity from Cuba, when the world is facing this pandemic was to allow to dock in the country. A British cruise ship that has been stranded for more than a week in the Caribbean after several cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed onboard, and other countries in the area refused to let it dock in their ports. Cuba said yes, and offered a safe port in the midst of adversity, with modesty, not seeking headlines in the media, for absolutely nothing in return. Cuba, true to its principles, could not act otherwise, nor is this the first time we have done so. Solidarity is in the genes of the Cuban people. It is part of our unique identity and has written memorable chapters in our history. It is with that sense of solidarity that Cuba sent its doctors to face Ebola in Africa, to help Haiti during the cholera outbreak or help during difficult times in Pakistan, Indonesia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Venezuela, among others. For those efforts Cuba count with the Henry Reeve International Contingent of Doctors Specialized in Disasters and Major Epidemics recognized with the Dr. Lee Jong-wook Public Health Award, granted by the Executive Council of the World Health Organization and which have written several pages of humanism since its foundation in 2005. Cuba has more physicians working abroad than practically any other country in the world, not because we are exporting anything but simply because we want to participate in building a world with better health conditions and improved living conditions for all. Unfortunately, while Cuba, its people and especially its medical and scientific professionals are selflessly cooperating with efforts to provide health care to underprivileged people around the world, the Government of the United States, as part of its aggressive policy against my country, is leading an insulting campaign against Cuban medical collaboration around the world. For the last couple of years, the administration of US president Donald Trump has been attacking Cuban doctors and has demanded its allies in Latin America to cancel their health cooperation agreements with Cuba. This led to the expulsion of Cuban medical staff, including doctors, nurses and technicians, from several countries, such as Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia, despite the opposition of the population of those countries that were let without basic medical services provided by Cuban professionals, especially in the more remote areas. This campaign of slandering and insult has been taken further for the Trump administration even during this pandemic, trying to discredit Cuba´s gestures of support to the world in the fight against the coronavirus. In a Note of protest present by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba this week regarding these matter, the discredit campaign of the White House presidency against Cuban doctors has been described as immoral and offensive, at a time that requires joining efforts to confront the pandemic, for which reason solidarity and aid towards needy peoples must be promoted. Finally, it is important to mention that Cuba is also facing the impact of COVID-19 at home, with 80 confirmed cases up to date. The health system of the country is well prepared and it counts with several institutions ready not only for surveillance, but also for treatment and the adequate organization, medical personnel and resources. For the first stage more than 3,100 beds have been made available throughout the country for the care of patients affected by this disease and the number will increase in correspondence with the behavior of transmission. One of the advantages Cuba has in this very difficult time is that our country has one of the highest ratios worldwide of physicians per capita even when excluding those doctors abroad. Cuba has more than 100,000 active doctors with the proportion of nine doctors for every thousand inhabitants. Regarding Ethiopia we have bilateral health cooperation agreement in place and a team of Cuban doctors are currently serving to the people of Ethiopia. Also there are many Ethiopian doctors graduated in Cuba who are also contributing to provide medical care to the people of this country. Up to now we have not received any request regarding cooperation regarding the efforts carry out by the authorities of Ethiopia to face COVID-19, but needless to say, that Cuba has always express its willingness to provide support, within its possibilities, when needed.
Vilma Thomas Ambassador of Cuba to Ethiopia
The Ethiopian Herald April 5/2020
