The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines has donated half a million medical masks to the Department of Health (DOH) to protect frontline healthcare workers during the ongoing pandemic.
In a statement, the 500,000 medical masks worth P8.5 million came from the Soong Ching Ling Foundation and was facilitated by UNDP Philippines and UNDP China, in coordination with both the Philippine Embassy in Beijing and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“With the rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases all over the country, healthcare workers are at a high risk of contracting communicable diseases. With the steady supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like medical masks, we are helping ensure that these frontline workers who are risking their lives day in and day out are well-looked after too. Their courage should never be understated,” said UNDP Resident Representative Titon Mitra said.
Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said the masks will be distributed to a number of hospitals nationwide. Villaverde accepted the donation on behalf of DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III.
“DOH commits to using the masks to protect the most vulnerable populations during the pandemic,” Villaverde said. “With such dedicated allies, we are optimistic that we have the strength to rise above this crisis.”
In June, UNDP provided 43 Zoom teleconferencing licenses to the Bangsamoro government to support its operation and reach its partners amid Covid-19.
Among the recipients of the 43 accounts are the Office of the Chief Minister Ahod Ibrahim, all the 15 ministries and select LGUs under the MILG in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The said accounts were activated a week after the presentation of the contingency plan by Chief Minister Ahod Ibrahim and the rest of the ministries to partners all over the Philippines.
Aside from providing the accounts, UNDP Philippines will also help the technical staff of the BARMM ministries in operating ZOOM and in using the platform securely.