PNGDF receive masks, sanitisers

National
David Manning

NATIONAL Pandemic Response Controller David Manning on Monday issued 4,000 boxes (consisting of 200,000 pieces) of face masks and hand sanitisers to the PNG Defence Force personnel at the National Control Centre in Port Moresby.
Manning said it was important that members of the Joint Agency Task Force, especially the Defence Force, police and Correctional Services who provided security overlay for the Covid-19 response were given all the protection required to keep themselves safe while they helped the health authorities fight the virus.
“Already we have seen an increase in the frontline health workers,” he said.
“We provide the next level of support in this fight and if we are not protected then we could also add to the Covid-19 statistics.
“So far, I have arranged for masks and hand sanitisers for the National Control Centre, the National Police Headquarters, the Bomana Police College and the NCD police, as well as for the PNG Correctional Services nationwide.
“I intend to secure the necessary PPEs for policemen and women throughout the country in the coming days.”
Meanwhile, the country’s largest office supplier, Theodist, recently donated more than K7,000 worth of office supplies to the Rita Flynn isolation facility in an effort to boost its response to the Covid-19.
Head Rita Flynn operations Dr Gary Nou described the donation as a buffer to help in his team’s operations.
Nou said as the case-load increased, the 60 staff at Rita Flynn were confronted with several challenges such as maintaining a 24-hour shift of surveillance and clinical care and balancing patient discharges – which were dependent on clinical conditions.
“The size of the donation and importance of these instruments cannot be down-played,” he said.
“Simple things such as biros, whiteboards, ink, the UPS, A4 paper – these are all operational things. For example, A4 paper is crucial because we photocopy all of the client information forms for surveillance.
“If we have 200 patients in a day, we’re doing double number of photocopies and that’s the type of usage we’re talking about.”
Recognising that the crisis has impacts on Government funding, Nou added that the support of businesses such as Theodist, had been of great help to health workers’ response to the Covid-19.
Theodist national sales and marketing manager Kevin Anderson said: “This pandemic has undoubtedly placed a significant burden on our health sector. As a PNG business, we feel a sense of responsibility to assist our health workers.”

One thought on “PNGDF receive masks, sanitisers

  • That SNR SGT Philip Paru is not even wearing a mask at all, he might get the virus and spread it.
    How can you tell the people to wear a mask when you are not wearing one.

    common sense must prevail here.

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