EU donates PPE worth $4million to South Sudan
The European Commission has boosted COVID-19 pandemic response in South Sudan, donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth 4 million Euro to the country.
The PPE which included surgical facemasks and hand sensitizer was received by the South Sudan World Health Organization (WHO). to be distributed countrywide. to help curb the pandemic
As a continuous support by the European Commission to South Sedan, the PPE will be accessed by the Ministry of Health and Frontline health workers, United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations.
Speaking to media during the handing over ceremony of the PPE, Christian Bader, European Union Ambassador to South Sudan said no effort should be spared in protecting the frontline health workers against COVID-19 risk.
“We are stronger in fighting the virus if all together, with South Sudanese authorities and citizens, we support the security and efforts of the frontline workers.
“We cannot tolerate that, when providing lifesaving services to people of South Sudan, so many humanitarians have no alternative but to risk their lives. One of those risk is COVID-19 to which health providers are particularly are exposed,” Bader said.
According the WHO COVID-19 Incident Manager, Henry Gray, the donation came at the right time to help the spread of the pandemic second wave.
South Sudan’s coronavirus case has surged in the recent days, close to 3000 and 59 fatalities amidst poor behavior change among the majority with people ignoring preventive measures, posing more danger during the second wave.
“This kind of collaboration is what we need, not only in South Sudan but globally if we are to beat virus and look after the population that need our supports,” Gray said commending the EU for the donation.
The World Food Program (WFP) Representative and Country Director warned the virus could hamper humanitarian services delivery to vulnerable people should it not contained.
He said provision of support to the frontline health workers to enable them to provide healthcare services to pregnant women, malnourished children and elderly people was imperative at the beginning of the current COVID-19 second wave.
“It is so important because COVID-19 is not the only challenge to South Sudanese people. If we are not careful, it can be a challenge to hamper our ability to provide all kinds of humanitarian services, medical services and assistance to people in the country,”
“We must not allow COVID-19 to stop us from doing what we need to do bring humanitarian aid and deployment assistance to this country,” Hollingworth emphasized.