Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
World Health Organization leaders at a press briefing on COVID-19, held on March 6 at WHO headquarters in Geneva. Here's a look at its history, its mission and its role in the current crisis.
KATHMANDU: The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced to supply various medical kits to South Asian countries, including Nepal, next week to help these countries fight against the coronavirus.
“Thousands of oxygen concentrators, testing kits, hospital beds, tents and personal protective equipment are among critical supplies that are being shipped to countries and rushed to areas where they are needed the most,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, adding, ““These supplies will help meet immediate needs while countries make long term arrangements.”
Most recently, WHO has rushed 60 metric tons of much needed diarrheal disease kits, and (personal protective equipment) PPEs to Bangladesh. The rapid deployment of these life-saving medicines and medical supplies is vital to WHO’s ongoing health emergency response efforts, Dr Khetrapal Singh said.
Earlier, WHO provided 43 metric tons of supplies including PPEs, diarrheal disease kits, tents, pulse oximeter, infrared thermometers and field deployment kits to Timor-Leste to respond to pandemic as well as floods that hit the island country last month.
Jointly assessing needs and gaps with countries in the Region, WHO is bringing in more supplies in the coming weeks for Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
“Collective efforts are needed to strengthen pandemic response. WHO is committed to working with all countries in the Region and supporting them in the current surge and beyond,” the Regional Director said.
Since early 2020, WHO has been working alongside governments to respond to the pandemic. Assisting with surveillance and monitoring, repurposing and deploying WHO staff wherever needed and most recently preparing roll out COVID-19 vaccination. Providing funding and assistance with supplies such as PPEs, laboratory reagents and other equipment continue to be among key areas of WHO support.
“This is a battle that cannot be fought alone. To curtail the pandemic, we must work together and step up to help each other within and outside our borders,” said the Regional Director.
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