Hungary is donating 800,000 vaccines to Ghana and 300,000 to Rwanda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in a video posted on Facebook on Monday.
Prior to his trip to Africa, the head of Hungarian diplomacy said that thanks to last year’s decisions on vaccine purchases and this year’s rapid vaccination campaign, Hungary is currently in a position to donate the vaccine as a form of aid.
“We have enough vaccinations for the first, second and third vaccinations, we also have a safety reserve, and Hungary can even help countries that are in a difficult situation,” Szijjártó said prior to his departure at Ferihegy Airport, adding that “this way, we can help African countries with unused vaccines at home.”
Explaining the government’s decision, Szijjártó announced that 800,000 vaccines will be delivered to Ghana this week and another 300,000 vaccines to Rwanda.
Szijjártó indicated that he would hand over the vaccine donation in Rwanda on Wednesday. On the way to the African country, he will make a short visit to Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, where they will discuss the further training of doctors and nurses in Hungary and conclude a tourism agreement.
Describing his further schedule, Szijjártó said he would fly from Rwanda to Turkey, where he would attend a meeting of foreign ministers at the Turkic Council and a subsequent summit on Friday.
According to him, Hungary will hand over another 200,000 vaccine donations at the Turkic Council’s event, after the council’s countries have decided to jointly support African countries in controlling the epidemic.
The Turcik Council is the gathering of five countries whose language belongs to the Turkic family, with Hungary having observer status since 2018.
