India Sends Masks, Gloves, Medical Equipment To Kiribati To Tackle Covid Outbreak
New Delhi, Feb 12: Responding to the appeal of Kiribati seeking support in its efforts to tackle the first Covid-19 outbreak in the Pacific Island country, India on Saturday delivered a consignment of medical supplies containing surgical masks, gloves, N95 masks, and other medications to the atoll nation. The relief material sent by the Government of India includes Pulse Oximeters, Swabs with VTM (Viral Transport Medium for diagnosis), Specimen bags for swabs, PPE kits (Surgical masks, Gloves, N95 masks, Shoe covers, Hair caps) and emergency Covid-19 medication supplies, the MEA said in a statement.
Despite the logistical challenges in reaching the isolated Pacific Island country, the medical supplies from India were put together and despatched in a short span of time. The consignment reached Kiribati on Saturday onboard a flight coordinated by the Australian Government. The consignment of medical supplies to Kiribati affirms India’s commitment to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support as an early responder in the Pacific region.
India remains committed to extend full support to Kiribati’s national efforts in mitigating the challenges arising from the pandemic, it said. Kiribati reported 135 new COVID-19 cases today, taking the total to 2,451. Two people have died. Kiribati and Samoa both implemented Covid-19 lockdowns on Saturday after international arrivals brought the virus with them, a rarity for the remote Pacific island nations. This is the first pandemic lockdown in Kiribati, which had previously reported only two Covid-19 cases — both were people on a fishing ship in May 2021 who isolated on board. The country reopened its borders to international travel earlier this month for the first time in nearly two years. On Tuesday, the government said that 36 out of 54 passengers on a flight from Fiji had tested positive for Covid upon arrival, despite being vaccinated and testing negative three times during the pre-departure quarantine period.
