11 Aug 2020

Solomons receives medical supplies for pandemic response

5:54 am on 11 August 2020

Solomon Islands has received the first batch in a series of medical supplies from abroad to help it prepare for a Covid-19 outbreak.

Solomon Islands Hospital

Solomon Islands Hospital Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins

The personal protective equipment and other medical supplies were financed by the Asian Development Bank and procured by the United Nations Children's Fund.

The supplies, including masks, thermometers, face-shields, gowns and testing kits will help frontline medical workers respond to a potential outbreak of the virus.

The remaining batches of supplies will arrive in staggered shipments.

They'll be paid for by a $US7.9 million grant from the bank to 13 countries in the Pacific, for pandemic response efforts.

To date, Solomon Islands has had no confirmed cases of Covid-19.