More than 4.7 million items of personal protective equipment (PPE), procured by WHO/Europe with funding from the European Union (EU), were delivered to Azerbaijan, Belarus and Ukraine in late June.
The essential equipment will help their healthcare workers respond effectively and safely to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 92-tonne consignment includes more than 2.8 million medical masks, 1.3 million respirator masks, 100 000 face shields, 60 000 pairs of goggles and 340 000 isolation gowns, all of which meet quality and safety standards for healthcare workers on the frontline.
The shipment is the first of several organized by WHO, in partnership with the EU; vital medical supplies are also expected to land next in Armenia, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova. In total, more than 10 million pieces of PPE, testing kits and case management supplies will be delivered over a period of eight weeks to the six countries.
WHO and EU in solidarity for health
This delivery is part of a larger package of assistance announced by the EU in March 2020. The €30 million aid from the EU will go towards preventing, detecting and responding to COVID-19 in the 6 countries.
These funds will be used over a period of 2 years, initially for immediate emergency needs and in the longer term to strengthen the countries’ capacity to respond to public health emergencies.