With this donation, WHO has donated a total of 11,000 testing kits to Maldives
During the signing ceremony on Monday morning
The World Health Organization (WHO) has donated an additional 50 lad testing kits to the Maldives, which can run 5,000 tests, as an aid for its efforts to combat the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
In a ceremony held at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) established at Dharubaaruge on Monday morning, Minister of Health, Abdulla Ameen signed the handover agreement on behalf of the Maldives while the WHO Representative for the Maldives, while Dr Arvind Mathur signed on behalf of the international health agency. The ceremony was also joined by the Chief Executive Officer of Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), Ibrahim Saleem, as well.
Speaking during the ceremony, Minister Ameen stressed on the importance of public adherence to the instructions and protocols set by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), as the Maldives is also at risk of the pandemic, although we haven’t seen it spread in local communities yet.
As such, he highlighted that the relevant authorities are implementing stringent measures to control the pandemic from spreading in the Maldives.
Adding that over 1,500 samples have been tested for the virus in the Maldives thus far, Ameen urged the people to remain indoors and follow instructions set by authorities during these trying times.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Mathur acknowledged and appreciated the comprehensive efforts that have been put in place to contain the disease.
The WHO representative further urged everyone to “join hands” with the authorities in their efforts to keep every individual safe and to follow and “have confidence” in the advice and instructions coming from the NEOC and HPA as these are for “our own safety”
Dr. Mathur added that it is every individual’s responsibility to put the simple measures being put in place, into practice and work with the technical teams so that capacities are being built in the health system to adequately prepare to support the people further.
On two separate occasions previously, the WHO had donated a total of 6,000 testing kits to the Maldives, and with the recent donation, the international health agency has donated a total of 11,000 testing kits to the Maldives.
Thus far, Maldives has seen 19 confirmed cases out of which 15 are foreign, and four local cases.
