London, April 15, 2020 (AltAfrica)-United Nations, UN boost the fight against coronavirus (Covid-19) in Nigeria when it delivers Nigeria ventilators and other medical supplies to the Nigerian government

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his counterpart in the health ministry, Olorunmbe Mamowora who is the minister of state for health and some other members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 received the supplies at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Tuesday evening

COVID-19. Just received, on behalf of the Presidential Taskforce, free medical equipment and supplies (including 50 ventilators) from the UN Systems. Thank you United Nations and thank you Allied Air Cargo for transporting it free to Abuja at very short notice. 🙏🏽🇳🇬🇳🇬🤲🏽 pic.twitter.com/mIMH9Xhhfs

— Hadi Sirika (@hadisirika) April 14, 2020

The shipment of ventilators and other essential medical supplies procured by the UN system in Nigeria to support the government’s COVID-19 response arrived the NAIA around 5pm.

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The consignment, which the UN said could be the first of several others to come, includes 50 A30 ventilators and personal protective supplies.

UN Resident Coordinator for Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said the supplies were procured with funds from the recently inaugurated COVID-19 Basket Fund, including $2m mobilised within the UN system in Nigeria and a $200,000 contribution from APM Terminals.

He said the supplies would be deployed across the country to health facilities based on needs and coordination structures already in place between the government and the UN.

Kallon said the next shipment of personal protective equipment are expected to arrive in Nigeria later this month.

He said, “The world is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. The spread of the COVID-19 is expected to put immense pressure on Nigeria’s healthcare system.

“The UN in Nigeria is actively mobilising resources in support of the government’s national response strategy of containing the pandemic and adequately caring for those confirmed to have the virus.”

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, was among those present to receive the consignment and noted that the supplies would go a long way towards boosting the government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare services and manage the pandemic.