More than 13,000 tonnes of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies worth $700,000 arrived into the country on Tuesday, courtesy of the New Zealand government. New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji Jonathan Curr said the second consignment was sent from Auckland to further bolster the Health Ministry’s fight to contain COVID-19.
The initial deployment of three tonnes of PPEs worth $200,000 was sent in May.
“The PPE will help increase the safety and protection of frontline medical staff as they screen, swab, test and treat Fijians to contain the spread of COVID-19,” Mr Curr said.
The PPE included gowns, face shields, goggles, gloves, disposable face masks, shoe covers, bouffant caps and other supplies such as infrared thermometers, anti-bacterial tabs, biohazard bags, swab kits and more.
Mr Curr said the PPE support was complemented by an additional $14 million to support the Fijian Government’s COVID-19 response and civil society organisations (CSOs)working with vulnerable households, as announced on June 21 by New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta.
New Zealand also partnered with Australia to deploy a medical assistance team to work alongside the Health Ministry to provide immediate support for health system management and infection prevention control.
New Zealand also procured a RT-PCR testing machine and necessary consumables for the Fiji Centre of Disease Control and provided supplies for airvos and ventilators to facilitate hospital preparedness.
Apart from support to the Health Ministry, the NZ High Commission has also worked closely with CSOs to support communities with food relief packs, hygiene kits and counselling services across Viti Levu.
