Kathmandu: Switzerland has assisted Nepal with medical supplies worth USD 8 million to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
A special cargo flight carrying the medical supplies landed in Kathmandu on Saturday. The 30-tons shipment contains 40 ventilators, oxygen concentrators, 1.1 million rapid antigen tests, and protective equipment (110’000 KN95 masks, 50’000 gloves, and 15’000 suits) amounting to a value of USD 8 million, according to the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu.
Swiss Ambassador Elisabeth von Capeller handed over the supplies to Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi at the airport.
The ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and protective equipment will reinforce the response of various hospitals in Nepal, whereas the antigen tests will allow for better monitoring and controlling of the spread of the virus through rapid health screening, community-level surveillance, and early isolation of patients, the Embassy said in a statement.
The current shipment of essential medical supplies is part of Switzerland’s comprehensive response to Covid-19 in Nepal, which has started in April 2020.
“Switzerland stands in solidarity with Nepal and the Nepali people in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. These essential medical supplies will save lives and provide further support to the Government of Nepal to control and contain the pandemic”, said Swiss Ambassador Capeller.
The current shipment of essential medical supplies is part of Switzerland’s comprehensive response to Covid-19 in Nepal, which has started in April 2020. Switzerland has so far allocated a total of USD 20 million to the Covid-19 response in Nepal.
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