Govt to distribute 70,000 PPE

PERSONAL protective equipment (PPE) numbering 70,000 procured by Unicef for frontline health workers fighting against the Covid-19 that arrived in Port Moresby this week will be distributed by the Government to health facilities across the country.
This was a partial shipment of a total procurement worth more than K2 million that Unicef managed through funding support provided by the World Bank and the Australian government.
The rest of the procurement will arrive in the country next month.
“We are extremely grateful to the World Bank and the government of Australia for their generous and timely contributions that are enabling Unicef to continue supporting the PNG Government’s response to the Covid-19,” Unicef representative David Mcloughlin said. “Whilst we face logistical challenges in shipping vital supplies, Unicef is committed to ensuring that protecting frontline health workers remains a top priority and we thank the World Bank and Australia for this support that will help allow our champion health workers to continue providing critical health care services to those that need it.”
Mcloughlin also clarified that the PNG Government was not required to reimburse the cost of the supplies to Unicef as some of the PPEs that it was procuring for the country was funded through World Bank in a special financial arrangement with the PNG Government. Other PPE supplies also managed and procured by Unicef are funded by the Australian government.
“Australia is pleased to partner with Unicef and the World Bank in providing PPE for PNG’s Covid-19 response,” Australian high commissioner Jon Philp said.
“It is vital that adequate supplies of PPE is available to protect frontline health workers.”