UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, yesterday donated personal protective gear and cleaning products to the Ministry of Education to support hygiene measures as schools reopen their doors to students nationwide next week.
A release from the UNHCR said that the donation includes 5,000 face masks, 5,000 bars of hand soap, 500 bottles of hydrogen peroxide and 150 bottles of hand sanitizer to be distributed among schools across the country.
“We are working to ensure that our schools, our environment for learning is presented in a safe way conforming to COVID-19 guidelines for engagement and interaction,” said Alfred King, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education.
These donations are part of the continued efforts to support the Government of Guyana in preventing the spread of COVID-19 across several regions, especially those hosting refugees and migrants, the release said. So far this year, UNHCR has donated hygiene products and equipment to be used in five out of the 10 administrative regions in Guyana.
In total, over 5,000 Personal Protective Equipment kits along with many cleaning supplies and prefabricated housing units for quarantine facilities were donated by UNHCR since the start of the pandemic.
“UNHCR remains committed to supporting the Government of Guyana and its people in the fight against COVID-19, especially now as we endeavour to reopen schools”, said UNHCR’s Assistant Education Officer, Samantha Bipat during the handover of the items.
The release said that Guyana hosts an estimated 20,000 refugees and migrants mainly from Venezuela. The release added that UNHCR and its partners have stepped up support to complement government efforts in responding to pressing needs, including education. Over the past two years, the release said that UNHCR has provided English as a second language courses to some 500 refugee and migrant children and adults across Guyana to help them better integrate in host communities.
