U.N. agencies procuring 7,000 oxygen concentrators, COVID-19 testing machines, PPEs for India: U.N. spokesperson
Farhan Haq’s remark comes a day after he mentioned that the U.N. had provided the help of its built-in provide chain if it was required however the supply was declined by India
The U.N. staff in India is supporting the nation’s authorities to answer the COVID-19 pandemic by offering essential provides and its agencies are procuring 1000’s of oxygen concentrators, oxygen producing crops and different important tools in addition to serving to arrange cell hospital models, a spokesperson for the U.N. chief mentioned.
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“I know you’ve been asking about our support to India during the current surge in COVID-19 cases,” Deputy Spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Farhan Haq instructed reporters on the every day press briefing on April 28.
“Our team there, led by Resident Coordinator Renata Lok Dessallien, is supporting the authorities’ response to the pandemic by providing equipment and supplies, including to local governments,” Mr. Haq mentioned.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) are procuring tools and provides, together with 7,000 oxygen concentrators and 500 nasal gadgets for oxygen provide, in addition to oxygen producing crops, COVID-19 testing machines, and private protecting kits, he mentioned.
Also learn: India declines UN’s supply of help from built-in provide chain, says it has ‘sturdy system’
Mr. Haq’s remark comes a day after he mentioned, in response to a query, that the U.N. had provided the help of its built-in provide chain if it was required however the supply was declined by India.
“We’ve been told at this point that it’s not needed because India has a reasonably robust system to deal with this. But our offer stands, and we’re willing to help in whatever way we can,” Mr. Haq had mentioned on April 28.
Mr. Haq mentioned WHO can be serving to to arrange cell hospital models and is offering for laboratories.
About 2,600 WHO area officers have been instantly deployed to assist well being authorities to curb the unfold of the pandemic.
In Maharashtra, UNICEF has engaged specialists to work on danger governance. The U.N. staff can be persevering with its marketing campaign highlighting the “three Ws: Wear a mask, Wash your Hands, Watch your distance and stay six feet apart,” he mentioned.
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According to the newest WHO figures, the dying toll in India crossed 201,000 and confirmed circumstances within the nation stand at almost 18 million.
“In India’s time of need, the U.N. is doing everything it can to rapidly provide critical equipment and supplies to central and state governments,” Ms. Dessallien mentioned.
The WHO mentioned in a press launch that filling essential gaps in important medical provides and hospital capacities ought to be the highest precedence as India battles surge in COVID-19 circumstances. WHO is chartering flights to herald 4,000 oxygen concentrators to assist meet the elevated calls for.
“The current rapid surge of COVID-19 cases has put immense pressure on the health systems, already overburdened since the start of the pandemic. We need to act with speed, expand hospital capacities and equip them with medical supplies, most needed to save lives,” Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh mentioned.
A U.N. News article mentioned the South-East Asian area has led the world in COVID-19 infections for a 3rd straight week, primarily because of the scenario in India.
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In order to make obtainable extra hospital beds and significant tools for India, WHO is procuring cell area hospitals with a capability of 20-30 beds, which might be arrange in essentially the most affected areas.
The mattress capability at these area hospitals may be elevated to a most of fifty, if wanted, with out impacting an infection prevention and management protocols, and water and sanitation, the WHO launch added.
The company can be offering for laboratories to satisfy the massive demand for testing, and over 2600 WHO technical workers, engaged on varied programmes comparable to polio, TB and NTD, have been repurposed to assist pandemic response in India.
WHO is procuring laboratory provides, together with 1.2 million reagents, to satisfy the massive demand and wish for testing.
Khetrapal Singh added that with a fast surge of circumstances, you will need to triage folks effectively to optimize obtainable assets comparable to ICU beds. Simultaneously, all efforts must be made to scale up COVID-19 vaccination protection, she added.
India this week accomplished a 100-day COVID-19 vaccination drive, with over 145 million doses administered.
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“Irrespective of the numbers that we see today or the virus variants that may be circulating during the ongoing surge, our key public health measures – test, trace, isolate and treat – along with physical distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and masks continue to be our tried and tested measures to curtail COVID-19 transmission,” she mentioned.
Underlining WHO’s dedication to proceed working with well being authorities in any respect ranges, Khetrapal Singh mentioned “Together we must do all we can to halt the current COVID-19 surge”.
Mr. Haq had mentioned that the U.N. is in contact with authorities in India at varied ranges. Chef de Cabinet to the United Nations Secretary-General Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti has been in contact with India’s Permanent Representative to the U.N. T.S. Tirumurti over the COVID-19 scenario in India and different officers within the system have additionally been in contact with officers each right here in New York and on the bottom.