By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Federal Government received N26 billion worth of medical supplies from the European Union and also the 2nd batch of medical supplies from the UN Basket Fund for COVID-19 response.
Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire disclosed this in Abuja today.
Ehanire in company of the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force, PTF, on COVID-19, Dr San Aliyu at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja received the consignments.
The medical supplies include 500,009 face shields, 200,000 goggles, 109 oro- pharyngeal airways, 10,000 bio- hazard bags and 14,000 safety boxes.
The Charge d’Affaires of the European delegation to Nigeria, Mr Alexander Borges- Gomes who handed over the items said that the items were procured through the One United Nations COVID-19 Basket Fund made possible from a significant contribution from the EU of N 26 billion.
Borges-Gomes said, ” Team Europe operates globally including Nigeria, adding that the idea is to counter the world wide ravages of COVID-19.
He expressed his expectations that the equipment will help boost Nigerian Government’s response and particularly protect the heroic Frontline health workers.
Further the minister said that the medical supplies would allay the fears of medical workers who think Nigeria may be running short of supplies which would have spark up strike action.
The minister assured the EU, UN of judicious distribution of the medical supplies to the needed areas.
