11 Apr 2020

Vanuatu expecting delivery of medical aid from China

1:38 pm on 11 April 2020

Vanuatu is today expecting a delivery of medical equipment from China to help fight Covid-19.

The aid was being flown via Australia.

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Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila Photo: RNZ / Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor

A spokesperson for the Health Incident Management Team, Russel Tamata, has told the Vanuatu Daily Post, the aid would include equipment to test for the virus.

He said if the foreign air crew needed to get off the plane they would be isolated in a safe zone in the airport transit area, to ensure there was no transmission of Covid-19.

The National Disaster Managerment Office said donated humanitarian supplies from Australia, New Zealand and France, for the victims of this week's Cyclone Harold, were subject to similar protocols.

The Office said the goods had been sealed, wrapped and handled by people wearing proper protective equipment.

Damage caused by Cyclone Harold on the Vanuatu island of Santo.

Vanuatu's Luganville was devastated by Cyclone Harold Photo: VBTC