The World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT), Australia donated over 800,000 USD worth of essential items to support the Government of Sri Lanka’s efforts to combat and control COVID-19; including personal protection equipment, hospital equipment, and testing equipment and supplies. On the 5th of May 2020, WHO handed over a donation of essential laboratory equipment, hospital equipment, personal protective equipment, and consumables to the Government of Sri Lanka to address the COVID-19 crisis.
The procurement focused on equipment that is essential to effectively controlling COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. The items procured include testing equipment, including a real time PCR machine, hospital equipment, including HDU beds and high-flow oxygen systems, and personal protective items, including gloves masks, and gowns. WHO also procured IT equipment for regional epidemiologists to support rapid surveillance and reporting of cases and to strengthen community-level surveillance. WHO partnered with DFAT, Australia to provide support to the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services with the procurement of these vital items. A consolidated list of the equipment is below.
COVID-19 is highly transmissible, warranting immediate action to prevent further transmission, reduce the impacts of the outbreak, and support control measures. Containment of COVID-19 is feasible and remains the top priority in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Preparedness and Response Plan is implemented with the overall goal to interrupt the transmission of the virus from one person to another using a comprehensive blended approach of containment and mitigation.
Enhanced testing of the contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 has led to the increased identification people who have COVID-19 and appropriate reporting in recent days. Sri Lanka can contain the epidemic through increased tracking, testing, isolation, and treatment strategy. The safety of frontline workers both health and non-health should be prioritized, and availability of personal protective equipment must be ensured. Local innovations have eased the stress for some of these; however, adequate stocks need to be ensured in the event of a spike of cases. The contribution from WHO and DFAT will support the country in its fast and agile response to the outbreak.
Consolidated list:
| Item | Example | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Personal protection equipment (PPE) items | Mask, gloves | Over 4,500,000 items |
| Virology Laboratory Equipment | PCR machine, pipette | 10 items |
| Biochemistry and Haematology | Centrifuge, autoclave | 5 items |
| Consumables | Tubes, filter tips | Over 1,500 items/packs |
| Hospital Equipment | Beds, high-flow oxygen systems | Over 350 items |
| WHO Kits | COVID-19 test kits | 120 kits |
| IT Equipment | Computers, video conference unit | Over 50 items |
| Printing | Leaflets, posters | Over 55,000 |