Govt to reimburse Unicef for supplies

PART of the personal protective equipment (PPE) that arrived from China on Monday was paid for by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) which will be reimbursed by PNG later, an official says.
Acting Health secretary Dr Paison Dakulala told The National that Unicef paid for about 11 tonnes of PPE, costing about US$3 million (about K10 million).
“The supplies that have come through Unicef is basically the PNG Government’s supply because while Unicef has paid for them, we (PNG) will reimburse that,” he said.
He acknowledged that the big part of the donation of PPE and medical supplies was from the Chinese government and community in PNG.
Dakulala, who is also the deputy state of emergency controller, said that about 5 tonnes of PPE paid for by Unicef arrived on Monday and the rest would be delivered soon.
He said medical supplies that arrived on Monday included components of polymerase chain reaction testing equipment that would help speed up Covid-19 testing in the country.
China’s ambassador Xue Bing said the medical equipment donated included nucleic testing kits, surgical face masks, gloves, goggles, personal protective suits and other equipment.
“These are donated by the Chinese central government, the provincial governments of Guandong and Fujian, and also by the local Chinese communities and companies,” he said.
“As a nation that always reciprocates kindness, the Chinese government is dedicated to supporting PNG in the fight against the Covid-19,” Xue said.
The total number of PPE coming in from China is about 400,000 units.