Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh (6th L) and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian (7th R) pose for photos after visiting vaccine storage facilities at the Preah Ket Mealea Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Feb. 3, 2021. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)
A team of Chinese vaccine specialists have provided training to Cambodian medical staff on how to use the anti-COVID-19 vaccine ahead of its arrival.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the training course held at the Preah Ket Mealea Hospital on Wednesday afternoon, Cambodian Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh said the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China will be arriving in the country"soon."
He said under the course, four Chinese medical experts would give instructions regarding procedures for care, storage, usage and transport.
"This emergency aid truly shows unbreakable ties and close cooperation between Cambodia and China and it will undoubtedly contribute further to building a community of shared future between our two countries," he said.
"China is the best friend who has helped support the government, the army and the people of Cambodia," Banh said."I'd like to thank the government, the People's Liberation Army and the people of China for their generous donation of this anti-COVID-19 vaccine and for sending medical experts to Cambodia."
Banh, who is also a deputy prime minister, is confident that the Chinese vaccine is quite safe and highly effective.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said that the joint COVID-19 fight between China and Cambodia is a model for international cooperation in combating the pandemic.
"Today's event is of great significance, and it marks a new stage of anti-pandemic cooperation between China and Cambodia," he said.
The ambassador firmly believed that the upcoming vaccination rollout will play a positive role in restoring Cambodia's socio-economic development.
Lun Leakhena, a doctor in charge of vaccine storage warehouse, told Xinhua that refrigeration vehicles have already been prepared to transport the vaccines, as a vaccine storage facility has also been built already at the Preah Ket Mealea Hospital.
According to a Ministry of Health statement on Thursday, Cambodia has officially approved the emergency use of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in the Southeast Asian country.
"The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia authorized the emergency use of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine that has been developed by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd of the People's Republic of China," Health Minister Mam Bunheng said in the statement.
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Thursday that the first batch of Sinopharm vaccine donated by China will arrive in Cambodia on Sunday.
"When the vaccine arrives at the Phnom Penh International Airport, I will go to receive it by myself," he wrote on his official Facebook page.
The prime minister said the vaccine will be provided free-of-charge to people who are at a high risk of getting coronavirus infections such as medical workers, teachers, bodyguards, armed force members, tuk-tuk and taxi drivers, and garbage collectors, among others.
Cambodia has so far reported 470 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with zero deaths and 452 recoveries.