The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has donated essentials to the government of Maldives, in support of its Covid-19 response efforts.
In a symbolic ceremony held to handover the equipment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday afternoon, the UNDP Resident Representative Akiko Fujii handed the consignment over to Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid.
The donation comes as part of UNDP’s Covid-19 Integrated Response Support and provides Maldives with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that includes 1,080 hazmat suits, 10,080 N95 masks, 5,000 surgical gowns, 6,000 surgical masks, 400 goggles, 6,000 head covers, 2,000 face shields, 5,000 shoe covers and 10,000 examination gloves.
These items will be used to support healthcare workers on the frontlines of the Covid-19 response efforts, in order to effectively and safely proceed with their work and aims to curb the spread of the virus.
During the ceremony, FM Shahid expressed gratitude to UNDP for its continued support to the Maldives government through its development trajectory, shedding light on UNDP’s support in the areas of climate action, consolidation of democracy and eradication of poverty.
He went on to shed light on the importance of effective partnership in combating natural calamities such as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In partnership with the private sector, namely, Teochew International Federation UNDP also donated one million non-surgical masks to the government of Maldives.
These will be utilized by workers of the local tourism industry, employed at guesthouses and aims to facilitate the economic recovery process under the new normal – a recommendation made in the ‘Rapid Livelihoods Assessment’ conducted by the Ministry of Economic Development with UNDP’s support this year.
The assessment resulted in designing and implementing livelihoods and economic recovery programmes including the provision of immediate socio-economic relief to the most affected, in particular members of the youth who faced dismissals, as well as women entrepreneurs.
Further, UNDP Resident Representative praised the Maldivian government on measures implemented against the virus outbreak, and for the leadership in recovering and “building back better”.
With this support, in addition to protecting health workers, the government and UNDP will effectively protect local tourism workers. As local tourism entities begin to re-open, PPEs will be critical in reducing transmission risks and minimizing the potential for the pandemic to escalate. It is important to ensure that those on the frontlines are protected, and that business continuity is supported in order to restore the country’s economy and people’s livelihoods - especially in the islands”Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative
Building on the “Rapid Livelihoods Assessment”, UNDP’s ongoing collaborations under the latest offer 2.0 in the theme of “Beyond Recovery: Towards 2030” have been adjusted to support Maldives in the context of the new normal under Covid-19 recovery.
It has a special focus on the climate and environment promise, as well as governance, women empowerment, justice and social cohesion.
Maldives acknowledges the “valuable role” played by the United Nations Country Team amidst the Covid-19 pandemic to provide the necessary expertise, support and assistance required to overcome not only the health emergency but also for the long-term planning and recovery to build back better.
Sunday’s event, which was attended by the UN Resident Coordinator, Heads of UN Agencies in Maldives and senior officials from foreign ministry, Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tourism, mirrors the “power” of partnerships to overcome challenges facing Small Island Developing States such as Maldives.
