Director of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine Guo Wei (R) and Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila sign documents during a handover ceremony of medical supplies provided by China in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on April 20, 2020. Palestine on Monday received a batch of medical supplies provided by China, including protective gear and testing kits for COVID-19. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
RAMALLAH, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Monday received a batch of medical supplies provided by China, including protective gears and testing kits for COVID-19.
The batch was handed over by Guo Wei, director of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, to Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila at the ministry's storage warehouses in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
The donated medical aid included the much-needed COVID-19 nucleic acid testing kits as well as disposable medical protective gears, protective goggles and N95 face masks.
At the handover ceremony, al-Kaila applauded the "timely and needed" support for Palestine in the fight against the COVID-19, saying that China has set an example for the entire world to cooperate against the global pandemic.
She said that the new equipment will be distributed to the health workers who are suffering a serious shortage in protective gears, and to different areas where they are needed.
For his part, Guo said that the aid shipment is part of China's cooperation with the international community in fighting the pandemic.
The Palestinian minister said that Palestinian clinicians and health workers have largely benefited from two meetings that were held with Chinese experts via video over the means to deal with the pandemic.
Last week, Palestine received a shipment of medical aid from China's Alibaba company, including testing kits and other medicinal and laboratory supplies.
Palestinian officials previously warned of a shortage in testing kits and protective gears which is considered an additional challenge to the already-struggling healthcare system in Palestine.
The total number of confirmed cases has reached 449 in Palestine, according to the latest figures released by the Health Ministry on Monday. Enditem
