China provides Kurdistan Region with COVID-19 testing kits

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – China has provided over 1,000 coronavirus testing kits to the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Health to assist in preventing the rise of the disease, also known as COVID-19, in the region.

A Chinese cargo plane arrived at Erbil International Airport (EIA) on Tuesday, with both the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Minister of Health and China’s Consul General in Erbil present at the airport.

In a joint press conference with the Chinese Consul General in Erbil, KRG Health Minister Saman Barznji said China had provided the Health Ministry with 1,008 coronavirus testing kits, “which will be distributed all over the region’s health facilities in accordance to their needs.” Barznji also reminded that China previously delivered medical masks to the Kurdistan Region.

The Health Minister called on the international community to support the Kurdistan Region in its fight with COVID-19.

For his part, Ni Ruchi, the Chinese Consul General in Erbil, said a delegation of Chinese experts would visit the Kurdistan Region on March 27 “to assess the COVID-19 situation in the region and facilitate the tasks of the health ministry on limiting the spread of the virus.” Ruchi highlighted China’s experience in successfully controlling the virus. 

The Consul General explained that the team would establish a lab in the Kurdistan Region, and has brought the medical and testing equipment needed from China to help the region overcome the pandemic.  

“China will continue to support the Kurdistan Region,” Ruchi said, adding that several Chinese companies have pledged to send equipment to the region to combat the coronavirus.

“The Chinese government is a friend of the Kurdistan Region and, in this situation, the Kurdistan Region’s people are not alone, and we believe that under the leadership of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the Ministry of Health, and the people of Kurdistan, we will win this battle,” the Chinese diplomat stated, also congratulating the people of Kurdistan on the occasion of Newroz, the Kurdish New Year.   

Meanwhile, Barznji stressed the need for people to stay home, noting that the KRG would “tighten medical procedures further by conducting examinations for workers in markets, shops, bakeries, and bread-shops” if necessary. He also emphasized that the current stage of the virus is dangerous and requires more preventative measures.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany