France donates medical stock to SA
DESPITE the notable gains recorded in the fight against Covid-19 in different parts of the world, French ambassador to South Africa Aurélien Lechevallier believes the battle is not yet won and the time is ripe to fortify medical facilities fighting the pandemic daily.
The French government has sent South Africa a donation of medical material and personal protective equipment, which consists of reanimation pumps, material for intensive care units and medical isolation gowns, worth R1.8 million
Lechevallier said joint efforts between Pretoria and Paris have to continue in the fight against Covid-19 as the battle is not over.
“As we are facing an unprecedented global health threat, and after consultation with the National Department of Health, the French government donated medical equipment and material to continue saving lives and protect health workers.
“The fight is not over.
“We need to continue to support the medical facilities and all those fighting on the front lines,” Lechevallier said.
“We might be seeing encouraging signs in South Africa, France and across the world, but we have to remain committed and continue our joint efforts against the virus and its social and economic impacts.
“France is proud to support South Africa in its fight against this pandemic.
“This is all part of our two countries’ long-time health partnership and of a co-ordinated #TeamEurope response by EU countries.”
Paris’s top envoy to South Africa emphasised that his nation has stood with South Africa, and the efforts led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, which has so far killed more than 14149 in South Africa.
The donation from the French government will help the South African authorities and health workers, whose handling of the Covid-19 crisis was recently commended by the international community and the World Health Organization, to continue saving lives.
“The infusion pumps, mostly used in intensive care units but also wherever there is need to deliver fluids in very small volumes and at precisely programmed rates, and medical isolation gowns, worth a total of R1.8m, will be distributed to district hospitals in the Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga,” said Lechevallier.
The French ambassador hinted that future collaboration between South Africa and France might involve more donations to support the African nation’s fight against Covid-19.
South Africa is under an eased level 2 Covid-19 lockdown, which allows wider movement within the country.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has, however, warned countries across the world that opening up prematurely is a recipe for disaster.
As South Africa goes through an extended period of a nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19, the French embassy said more than 10000 of its citizens have remained in South Africa in solidarity with the South African people.
There are at least 400 French companies operating in South Africa. |