Guinea-Bissau receives around 26 tons of Personal Protective Equipment’s to strengthen COVID-19 response in the country

Thanks to a cooperation between World Bank, United Nations Development Programme – UNDP and European Union through Portugal, more than 26 tons of Personal Protective Equipment – PPE evaluated to around 2 million USD dollars started to reach the country on July 23^rd to strengthen the national response to COVID-19.

The PPE received, 80,000 waterproof hats, 80,000 disposable protective glasses, 80,000 surgical drapes and 12,000 shoes cover, are critical to the protection of medical staff directly involved in the reception and treatment of COVID-19 infected people and will be managed by the Center of Health Operations in Emergency – COES under the supervision of the High Commissioner for the fight against COVID-19 in Guinea-Bissau. 

The equipment procured by UNDP with World Bank’s financial contribution reached the country thanks to European Union’s humanitarian bridge that is an integrated joint initiative that allows to take humanitarian aid to most affected countries by coronavirus in a context of restricted logistic transportation due to the pandemic. The flights of the bridge are totally funded by European Union and operated in coordination with a member state (Portugal in the case of Guinea-Bissau) in collaboration with the humanitarian organizations that send the material. The Humanitarian Air Bridge is a temporary initiative that complements the logistic services of the United Nations Global Plan of Humanitarian Response.

The official reception ceremony counted with the presence of the High Commissioner for the Fight Against COVID, Dr. Magda Robalo Correia e Silva, The EU Ambassador in Guinea-Bissau Sonia Neto, the Representative of the Camões Institute, António Nunes, the Consul of Portugal José Costa, Patricia Rosa Merle representing World Bank, UNDP Deputy Representative Mr. José Levy, WHO Representative Dr. Jean Marie Kipela.