WHO and DFAT donate vital equipment and supplies to fight COVID-19 in Sri Lanka

Tuesday, 12 May 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The World Health Organisation (WHO) last week handed over a donation of essential laboratory equipment, hospital equipment, personal protective equipment, and consumables to the Government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The procurement, of over $800,000, focused on equipment that is essential to effectively controlling COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. The items procured include testing equipment – including a real time PCR machine – hospital equipment, such as HDU beds and high-flow oxygen systems, and personal protective items, including gloves, masks and gowns.

The WHO also procured IT equipment for regional epidemiologists to support rapid surveillance and reporting of cases and to strengthen community-level surveillance. The WHO partnered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia, to provide support to the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services with the procurement of these vital items. A consolidated list of the equipment is shown below.

As of 10 May, Sri Lanka has reported 847 confirmed cases total; 260 people have fully recovered, and nine people have died from COVID-19.

COVID-19 is highly transmissible, warranting immediate action to prevent further transmission, reduce the impacts of the outbreak, and support control measures. Containment of COVID-19 is feasible and remains the top priority in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka Preparedness and Response Plan is implemented with the overall goal to interrupt the transmission of the virus from one person to another using a comprehensive blended approach of containment and mitigation.

Enhanced testing of the contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 has led to the increased identification of people who have COVID-19 and appropriate reporting in recent days. Sri Lanka is on the right track to containing the epidemic through the increased tracking, testing, isolation, and treatment strategy. Moreover, the safety of frontline workers – both health and non-health – should be prioritised, and availability of personal protective equipment must be ensured. Local innovations have eased the stress for some of these; however, adequate stocks need to be ensured in the event of a spike of cases.

The contribution from WHO and DFAT will support the country in its fast and agile response to the outbreak.