By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Israeli Embassy in Nigeria yesterday donated it’s pledge of 3D Face masks to the Federal Ministry of Health to support Nigeria against the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a press release signed by Director, Information, Media of the Ministry of Health, Olujimi Oyetomi, the Israeli Ambassador H.E Simon Ben Soshan led the Israeli Embassy to donate 10,000 face masks.
According to the statement the face masks was donated yesterday to “medical staff who are in the frontline in Nigeria.
Soshan had earlier donated the first installment of 2,000 face masks on 7th May, 2020, and planned a donation of 10,000, the ministry said.
Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who in the company of the Permanent Secretary, Health, Mr. A.M. Abdullahi received the second installment of the promised face masks said he wish that Nigeria could reciprocate this kind gesture given the fact that Israel like every other country in the world is facing its own share of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria Soshan said that the face masks were designed in Israel but produced in Nigeria by a Nigerian-Israeli Company – Skill-G Nigeria.
The Israeli Ambassador proudly announced that “the production of the face masks were produced in Nigeria by Nigeria engineers.
Ehanire expressed gratitude for the kind gesture said that Nigeria with a large population needs, a lot of materials, adding the| world is looking forward to vaccine.
He said, “For the State of Israel, we know that you have your own problems and challenges of COVID-19 and as everyone is dealing with its own, it is very gratifying to note that you still have time to support your neighbour in need. We too wish we could also send you something to you in Israel, because that would have been mutual.”
The Honourable Minister expressed sympathy with Israel over what he said are developments there: “Our thoughts and prayers are with everybody there.” He also asked for the opportunity for mutual studying of the situation and sharing of experience and knowledge between scientists in Israeli and Nigeria.
Ehanire also requested that Nigeria shares knowledge with Israeli Researchers on Vaccine against COVID-19 , Nigeria working with Israeli consultancy to establish its Medical Ambulance Emergency Service.adding that there has been zoom meetings in partnership with Israelis to learn how Israeli operates its emergency medical services which Nigeria is just trying to establish.
