Nigeria takes delivery of $22m medical supplies from EU, UN to fight rising cases of covid-19
London, June 21, 2020 (AltAfrica)-Nigerian Government has taken delivery of Medical equipment worth $22m from the European Union and the United Nations to help in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, PTF, received the consignment at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria same day the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, confirmed 661 new cases of Covid-19.
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With the latest confirmation on Saturday, Covid-19 cases in the country have risen to 19808 with 6718 Discharged and 506 Deaths.
On its official Twitter handle, @NCDCgov, the Centre shows the breakdown of the new cases;
661 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
— NCDC (@NCDCgov) June 20, 2020
Lagos-230
Rivers-127
Delta-83
FCT-60
Oyo-51
Edo-31
Bayelsa-27
Kaduna-25
Plateau-13
Ondo-6
Nasarawa-3
Ekiti-2
Kano-2
Borno-1
19,808 confirmed
6,718 discharged
506 deaths pic.twitter.com/PH87IGyn5R
The shipment which was procured through the One UN Covid-19 Basket Fund with contribution from the EU was handed over to the PTF by the EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria, Ketil Karlsen.
The shipment includes, among other items, 545 oxygen concentrators, more than 100,000 test kits, infrared digital no-touch thermometers and numerous Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Others are laboratory supplies and emergency health kits that will boost the Nigerian Government’s efforts on COVID-19 response and care for those affected by the Coronavirus,’’ it stated.
“Today we take a vital step in the response to the pandemic. The alliance between Team Europe, the PTF and the UN has proven very strong. This is partnership in practice when it matters the most,” Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS said.
The UN’s Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon sai; ”the EU had contributed 50 million Euro through the Nigeria One UN Covid-19 response which serves as One Covid-19 Financing and Investment Platform, through which different stakeholders including the UN, other multilateral and bilateral donors, as well as private sector donors, foundations and philanthropists can channel their financial support to the multi-sectoral efforts of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 Response in Nigeria.”
“The alliance between Team Europe, the PTF and the UN has proven very strong; this is partnership in practice when it matters the most.
“Addressing the health crisis in Nigeria and getting the economic wheels turning again are key priorities for the EU, all the while, making sure that we protect the most vulnerable,” it further stated.
The growing COVID-19 crisis threatened to disproportionately impact communities not only as a health crisis in the short term, but as a devastating social and economic crisis over the months and years to come.
The One UN COVID-19 response is working closely with the Nigerian government in its pandemic response efforts through sharing crucial information with communities on how to protect themselves, infection prevention and control, epidemiology/surveillance and management of COVID-19 cases.
The fund will also support income-generating opportunities for people whose livelihoods are most at risk through cash transfers and help restore supply chains disrupted by the pandemic.
“We must all work together to contain the pandemic in Nigeria – it is only through close joint efforts that we can keep Nigerians healthy and ensure good care for those affected.
“We will beat this virus in Nigeria – and the support we are receiving from partners such as the EU, UN and others brings us even closer to this ultimate goal,” said Mr Boss Mustapha, Chairman, PTF on COVID-19.
