TIRANA – A member of NATO and the EU being also at the helm of the Union, Croatia has just received a Chinese donation of 60-ton medical equipment for the anti- Covid fight in protection of people’s life, according to a report by a Croatian media outlet.
“A direct flight from Shanghai carrying some 60 tons of protective equipment arrived in Zagreb on Sunday,” said a statement released by the government as quoted by HRT news agency which specified that the protective equipment will be used by the Croatian healthcare system and other services involved in efforts to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
The Chinese SF Airlines cargo company aircraft landed in Zagreb’s Franjo Tuđman International Airport bearing large quantities of protective masks, suits, glasses, gloves, as well as contactless thermometers to be used for triage and patient diagnosis. This is by far the largest shipment of protective equipment from China following the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic. Additional shipments between China and Croatia are expected in the coming weeks.
“The shipments are expected to ensure a continued supply of necessary equipment to the Croatian health care system and all other services engaged in fighting the pandemic,” said the statement.
In addition the government’s statement goes on to note that Sunday’s shipment is another example of the high quality and concrete cooperation between Croatia and China: This flight carrying a valuable donation of protective equipment from the Chinese government to Croatia was delivered as announced by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang two weeks ago in a phone call with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. The flight also included a donation from the Croatian community in China to the Croatian Red Cross.
The shipment was received by Health Minister Vili Beroš and the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office, Zvonimir Frka-Petešić, along with the Chinese Ambassador to Croatia HE Erwen Xu. The Civil Protection Directorate has taken charge of the equipment and will now distribute it throughout Croatia.
Albania is a strategic ally of Croatia and it has been hit by the horrible pandemic like that country and other neighbors and the European Continent and beyond. Croatia has an economic development and a medical system far better than that of Albania. The majority and opposition in that country have joined forces to save as many as possible people’s lives and reduce the impact of the crisis, as it was said recently by a lawmaker in the Croatian Parliament. Likewise they have common language on attracting massive medical aid at these turbulent times of threat to people’s life.
Like Croatia many other regional countries are racing in search of aid but what is apparent foreign medical aid is scarce in Albania and as it is difficult to learn the real supply of medical equipment in this extraordinary emergency situation one thing is obvious: citizens are faced with a total lack of masks, gloves and disinfection lotions in pharmacies. It’s not clear if China has been approached for any medical aid by local authorities, but what is known is only a shipment of a donation of an amount of medical equipment some weeks ago. An example like the one of Croatia followed by many other countries, including Italy, could probably be followed by Albania as the ‘invincible’ enemy hits without any political affiliation, and in line with world leaders appeal according to which countries should unite as they are in the same war frontline. /argumentum.al
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