The European Union and WHO deliver critical supplies to the COVID-19 frontline in the Republic of Moldova

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

The delivery of 1.5 million pieces of personal protective equipment to the Republic of Moldova, funded by the European Union and procured by 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.

Peter Michalko, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, and WHO Representative in the Republic of Moldova, Dr Igor Pokanevych, handed over the equipment to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection as 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.

The entire assistance for the Republic of Moldova includes 330.000 gloves, 356 oxygen concentrators, 41 patients monitors, 40 ventilators, 215 pulse oximeters, 1500 kits for laboratory tests, and 12.000 kits for samples collection in the total amount of 2.8 million EURO.

The donation of the personal protective equipment and medical and laboratory devices is part of the European Union’s response to the outbreak of COVID-19, currently affecting more than 188 countries and territories. On 27 March 2020, the European Union 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 European Union’s and WHO’s ongoing support to the Republic of Moldova.