The government of Lesotho received 203340 doses of Sinopharm vaccine from the government of the People’s Republic of China on Friday 20, 2021 at an event held at the Ministry’s Headquarters building.
In his keynote address, the Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho His Excellency Lei Kezhong said it is a great honour to donate 203340 doses of Sinopharm vaccine to the Government of Lesotho and this comes as a testimony of the true friendship and strong bilateral relations between the two countries and two people. He added that the vaccine will boost efforts of Basotho who already engaged in the fight against Covid-19.
He stated that Lesotho and China have been standing together in this battle, saying so far China has donated 8 batches of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) medical equipment to Lesotho, and medical experts who came last year to assist in the fight against Covid-19. He said China has continuously been fulfilling her commitment to make Covid-19 vaccines a global public good, and to date China has donated more than 100 countries with the vaccines.
He further noted that the Covid-19 is causing havoc across the world, life, safety and health of all mankind is under grave threat, and the face of such a major crisis, China is indeed ready to assist in every way. In conclusion, he said from the 203340 doses, 3400 of doses will be used to immunise Chinese people living in Lesotho.
Receiving the vaccine on behalf of the government of Lesotho, the Minister of Health Mr. Semano Sekatle thanked the government of the People’s Republic of China for the donations it has been giving out to Lesotho government since the pandemic, he said they are indeed thankful for what China is doing.
He said Lesotho is ranked high amongst the countries that are fighting the Covid-19 with 124000 people immunised and with the efforts it takes to source the vaccines in this economic crisis hitting globally, he said the vaccine is good as others and it has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) therefore Basotho are urged to pay visit to all approved stations to get vaccinated.
Speaking on behalf of WHO, Dr Richard Banda said their mandate is to ensure safety for everyone affected by covid 19 through their different areas of expertise and that they will continue to show the extra ordinary effort in the fight against Covid-19.
Another 60, 000 Sinopharm vaccine is expected to arrive next week and it was purchased by the Lesotho Private Sector which also contributed in transportation of the whole package of the vaccine.
 
Source: LENA 21/08/2021