On Friday, June 18th, the Ministry of Health in Suriname received a donation of critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items to be used by healthcare workers during the current COVID-19 surge in Suriname.
Brazil continues to support Suriname during the pandemic, strengthening the relationship between the countries. The donated PPE items were procured and handed over by PAHO on behalf of the Brazilian government, and include: 13.636 KN95 respirators, 19.800 medical masks and 450 pairs of medical gloves. The items have been stored at the Bureau of Medical Supply Suriname (BGVS) and will be distributed by the Ministry of Health to the health facilities on the front line in the National Response.
It was only a month ago that Suriname received its first 4x4 ambulance donated by Brazil, the World Food Programme and PAHO. Suriname is currently experiencing its third COVID-19 wave, and while vaccinations are rolled-out in the country, these donations are invaluable in the fight against the virus. “The protection of health workers” remarked Dr. Karen Lewis-Bell, PAHO/WHO Representative in Suriname, “will continue to be one of the key interventions in the COVID-19 Response and we need to ensure the availability of PPE at all times, as relevant to the roles and tasks performed, in adequate quantity, appropriate fit and of acceptable quality.”
