Thirteen tonnes of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies worth NZ$482,000 have arrived in Fiji from New Zealand.
High Commissioner Jonathan Curr says the second consignment was sent from Auckland on Tuesday to further bolster the Fijians' fight against the escalating Covid-19 crisis there.
.. Photo: NZ High Commission, Fiji
Curr said the initial deployment of three tonnes of PPE worth $NZ138,000 was sent in May.
He said the PPE would help increase the safety and protection of front-line medical staff as they screen, swab, test and treat Fijians to contain the spread of the virus.
The PPE included gowns, face shields, goggles, gloves, disposable face masks, shoe covers, bouffant caps and other supplies such as infrared thermometers, anti-bacterial tabs, biohazard bags and swab kits.
Curr said the PPE support was complemented by an additional $NZ10 million to support the Fijian Government's Covid-19 response and civil society organisations (CSOs) working with vulnerable households, as announced on June 21 by New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta.
New Zealand also partnered with Australia to deploy a medical assistance team this week to work alongside the Fijian health authorities and provide immediate support for health system management and infection prevention control.
High Commissioner Curr said New Zealand has also procured a RT-PCR testing machine and necessary consumables for the Fiji Centre of Disease Control and provided supplies for airvos and ventilators to facilitate hospital preparedness.
Apart from support to the Health Ministry, the NZ High Commission has also worked closely with CSOs to support communities with food relief packs, hygiene kits and counselling services across Viti Levu, Curr said.
Jonathan Curr. Photo: MFAT