Backing up the front line: delivering supplies to fight COVID-19
Since the start of the outbreak, UNICEF has shipped life-saving supplies to frontline health workers in 81 countries.
Despite all challenges caused by the pandemic, UNICEF has been continuously procuring personal protective equipment (PPE) on behalf of governments to protect health workers and minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Since January 2020, UNICEF has supported 81 countries and shipped more than:
• 7.6 million gloves
• 4.5 million surgical masks
• 1 million N95 respirators
• 561,020 gowns
• 43,196 goggles
• 212,936 face shields
UNICEF has also procured over 1 million COVID-19 tests, 72,700 of which have already reached 10 countries and another 254,500 currently on their way to 22 more.
See below a snapshot of some of our work in May.
Malawi
With support of the Government of the United Kingdom, a UNICEF shipment of medical supplies arrived in Lilongwe, Malawi. The shipment included hospital equipment to help frontline health workers respond to COVID-19.
Myanmar
The first batch of 10,000 COVID-19 tests reached Myanmar to scale up the country’s testing capacity and mitigate the risk of infection for children and families. UNICEF is also supporting the Government with critical supplies and logistics in its response to the pandemic.
The Philippines
A shipment with supplies including 72,000 PPE kits and 450,000 masks (N95 and surgical masks) for health staff arrived in Manila. Through this shipment, UNICEF is supporting the Government of the Philippines in its efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Iran
In response to a request from Iran’s Ministry of Health and with the generous support of Qatar Airways that waived air freight costs, UNICEF shipped 36 metric tons of PPE items to protect health personnel working in Iran. The shipment was made possible with the financial support of the Government of Japan.
UNICEF has so far shipped 63 metric tons of PPE to Iran, part of which has been distributed to health personnel in university hospitals.
Pakistan
Eight metric tons of PPE for frontline health workers arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan. The N95 respirators and surgical gowns were procured by UNICEF on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, with financial support from the World Bank.
Cameroon and Mauritania
Supplies procured by UNICEF for the COVID-19 response reached Cameroon and Mauritania. This shipment was managed through the World Food Programme-led Logistics Cluster and included the delivery of protective suits and masks for health workers in both countries.
Ecuador
UNICEF delivered a second batch of 965,300 supplies to the Ministry of Health in Ecuador. The shipment included 918,900 gloves; 13,100 medical gowns; 20,000 N95 respirators and hand sanitizers, and was made possible thanks to the support of private donors and the Government of the United Kingdom.
Zimbabwe
A UNICEF shipment of PPE reached Harare, Zimbabwe. The shipment included a total of 16 metric tons of masks and gowns for health workers and was made possible with the support of the Health Development Fund donors, the EU, DFID, SIDA-Sweden, Irish aid and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care of Zimbabwe, the equipment has been distributed to all provinces in the country for use in medical facilities and distribution at the district and community levels.
