Korea donates over 107,000 facemasks to protect communities in Congo from COVID-19

Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, 21 September 2021 - The Republic of Congo has received from the Republic of Korea over 107,000 quality face masks to protect health workers from COVID-19, which has affected so far over 13,000 people in Congo since the beginning of the pandemic.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in the Democratic Republic of Congo, his Excellency KIM Kie-joo, who is also with the Ambassador for the Republic of Congo, has travelled from Kinshasa to Brazzaville on 21 September to attend the handover ceremony. The event, which took place at the integrated healthcare center of Moukondo, Brazzaville, under the leadership of the Congolese Minister of Health and Population, his Excellency Gilbert Mokoki, saw the participation of UNICEF’s Representative in Congo, Doctor Chantal Umutoni, alongside Ambassador KIM Kie-joo.

"We have learned an important lesson - the pandemic crisis has renewed the urgent call for global cooperation and solidarity, there is no doubt that the global spread of the pandemic requires a collective response," says Ambassador KIM Kie-joo. "Korea will continue to cooperate with its partners to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and help ensure the resilience of the international community."

"I would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Korea for this donation of 107,000 masks, which will help strengthen prevention measures and ensure the continuity of health services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic," added the Minister of Health and Population of the Republic of Congo, his Excellency Mr Gilbert Mokoki. "Our health personnel, who have been trained on infection prevention and control, will know how to make good use of this donation, in the context of strengthening the fight against the pandemic.”

The Republic of Korea has contributed USD 14.5 million, as of the end of 2020, to the worldwide COVID-19 response. The Korean Government has donated 4.6 million high-quality facemasks worth USD 9.4 million for UNICEF’s COVID-19 response in 24 countries in Africa and Latin America. 11 countries in Africa, including the Republic of Congo, have received a total of over 1.7 million Korean facemasks. 

"Successful partnerships, such as the one UNICEF has with the Korean Government, are at the heart of our work to contribute to the provision of good quality health services to communities," says UNICEF's representative in Congo, Dr Chantal Umutoni. "UNICEF remains convinced that improving the working and intervention conditions of health workers and strengthening the resilience of the health system are key to improving the quality of services offed to populations and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic."

The Korean Government and UNICEF have over 70 years of partnership as their collaboration started right after the establishment of the country in 1948. The Republic of Korea is currently one of UNICEF’s top donors and one of the largest suppliers for the Fund’s procurement needs, as well as a member of UNICEF’s Executive Board.