WHO donates an additional 10,000 Covid-19 testing kits to Maldives
The kits were handed over at a ceremony held at NEOC on Monday evening
Health Minister Abdulla and WHO’s representative to the Maldives Dr. Arvind Mathur at the ceremony held at NEOC on Monday
The World Health Organization (WHO) has donated over a total of 41,000 Covid-19 testing kits to the Maldives, following the outbreak.
The organization donated an additional 10,000 kits on Monday. The kits were handed over to Health Minister Abdulla Ameen by WHO’s representative to the Maldives Dr. Arvind Mathur, at a ceremony held at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC).
At the ceremony, the health minister thanked the WHO for the continued support to Maldives’ Covid-19 response efforts.
The WHO official also assured that more testing kits will be donated to the country in the future.
Earlier, the organization also donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the island nation, this includes gowns, gloves, face masks as well as face shields.
WHO has also been assisting the island nation in securing other required medical equipment, from other nations and organizations. Maldives has, on multiple platforms, reiterated the need for international support in Covid-19 efforts.
While Maldives has confirmed 1,903 Covid-19 cases thus far, over 30,000 tests have been conducted. There are currently three laboratories that have the facilities to conduct tests, they are state-run Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), Police’s Forensic Lab and ADK Hospital.
Health officials had previously expressed concern over the country’s testing capacity, however, authorities assure that over 1,000 tests can be conducted per day currently.
