One of the largest humanitarian aid to fight the pandemic COVID-19, which contains medical and respiratory masks, goggles and gowns, which comes to equip medical workers in the Republic of Moldova to provide medical services effectively and safely to combat the pandemic arrived today, July 14, in the Republic of Moldova.

A shipment of medical respirators and masks, goggles and gowns to help enable health-care workers in Moldova to respond effectively and safely to the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the country on July 14.

The delivery of 1.5 million pieces of personal protective equipment to Moldova, funded by the European Union (EU) and procured by the World Health Organization (WHO), includes 1,210,000 medical masks, 348,000 N95 Respirators, 16,200 goggles, and 36,000 protective gowns. All items of equipment delivered have been checked to ensure they meet quality and safety standards for health-care workers on the frontline. The entire assistance for Moldova includes 330,000 gloves, 356 oxygen concentrators, 41 patients monitors, 40 ventilators, 215 pulse oximeters, 1,500 kits for laboratory tests, and 12,000 kits for samples collection. The total amount of assistance is around €2.8 million.

Peter Michalko, EU Ambassador to Moldova, and WHO Representative in Moldova, Dr. Igor Pokanevych, handed over the equipment to the Ministry of Health, Viorica Dumbrăveanu. The equipment is part of a larger assistance package to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country. 

Ambassadors of EU Member States were present at the event, as part of the TeamEurope initiative.

“In these difficult times, the EU stands by Moldova. The Solidarity for Health initiative is a concrete example on how the EU supports the Moldovan healthcare system to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. We trust that the supply of medical devices and personal equipment, such as ventilators, laboratory kits, masks, goggles, gowns, and safety suits will be of benefit to both frontline healthcare workers as well as to all Moldovan citizens,” highlighted Mr Peter Michalko, EU Ambassador to Moldova. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic is a resilience test for health systems around the world, and Moldova is not an exception. Thanks to development partners, international organizations, economic agents, who have provided humanitarian aid, we put all our efforts to manage this health crisis. We express our gratitude for the medical equipment offered by the EU and the WHO, strategic partners in the fight against COVID-19 infection, which will be distributed to all medical institutions in the country, to protect frontline heroes,” said Dumbrăveanu.

“Health-care workers are at the frontline of our response to COVID-19, placing them at higher risk of exposure to the virus. They are our heroes, but they are not superhuman. The delivery of this protective equipment, made possible thanks to the generous contribution of the EU, will go far in reducing the risk health-care workers in our country face in their daily work and help protect them, patients and vulnerable people from this virus,” Dr Igor Pokanevych, WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country Office in Moldova, said.

The donation of the personal protective equipment and medical and laboratory devices is part of the EU’s response to the outbreak of COVID-19, currently affecting more than 188 countries and territories. On 27 March 2020, the EU announced an assistance package of €30 million to help prevent, detect and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in six countries of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, including Belarus. The funds initially will be used to meet immediate emergency needs, such as procuring essential supplies and training for health-care workers, frontline responders, and patients. In the longer term, the assistance will go towards strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies.

The project builds upon the EU’s and WHO’s ongoing support to Moldova.