Guyana is among Caribbean countries which will benefit from critically needed personal protective equipment (PPE) under a CDB programme.
A release yesterday from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) said that PPE is on its way to medical workers on the front lines of the Caribbean’s COVID-19 pandemic response.
It said that on Wednesday, the CDB and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) took delivery of the majority of US$3 million worth of PPE at the Port of Bridgetown in Barbados. CDB procured the equipment with concessional resources through the Bank’s Special Development Fund.
The shipments, the release said, include 35,000 protective suits, 111,000 isolation gowns, over 67,000 goggles, 250,000 protective gloves and 160,000 masks.
CDB also partnered with Crown Agents out of the United Kingdom to secure the equipment which was sourced from Germany and China.
The PPE will go to Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking at the event, CDB President, Dr Warren Smith reiterated the Bank’s commitment to helping its Borrowing Member Countries to cope with the effects of COVID-19.
“The coming months are likely to be particularly challenging, given the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19. Helping our Borrowing Member Countries to build resilience against shocks like COVID-19 remains high on CDB’s development agenda,” stated Dr Smith.
Executive Director (ag.) of CDEMA, Elizabeth Riley underlined the work the agency has done to establish the regional hub that will be used to distribute the PPE to 13 other Caribbean countries.
“To support our Participating States, CDEMA has established an Integrated Regional Logistics Hub in Barbados, which serves as a primary repository and transhipment point for COVID-19 related relief supplies and aids the coordination of humanitarian logistics. This critical and timely support from the Caribbean Development Bank will strengthen the capacity of our Participating States in times of greatest need,” noted Riley.
