FG: We’ve taken delivery of 50 ventilators from UN

The United Nations has donated some free medical supplies to Nigeria to support the country’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, received the materials on behalf of the presidential task force on COVID-19 on Tuesday.

According to him, 50 ventilators are among the medical supplies.

“Just received, on behalf of the Presidential Taskforce, free medical equipment and supplies (including 50 ventilators) from the UN Systems,” he tweeted.

“Thank you United Nations and thank you Allied Air Cargo for transporting it free to Abuja at very short notice.”

COVID-19. Just received, on behalf of the Presidential Taskforce, free medical equipment and supplies (including 50 ventilators) from the UN Systems. Thank you United Nations and thank you Allied Air Cargo for transporting it free to Abuja at very short notice. 🙏🏽🇳🇬🇳🇬🤲🏽 pic.twitter.com/mIMH9Xhhfs

— Hadi Abubakar Sirika (@hadisirika) April 14, 2020

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Sani Aliyu, national coordinator of the PTF on COVID-19 had earlier announced that the country was waiting to receive the medical supplies.

He also added that the UN has so far released $1.4 million from the Nigerian-UN COVID-19 basket fund launched to combat the pandemic.

He explained that the initiative was set up by the UN system together with multisectoral partners and the private sector.

“The plan is to have a specific fund from the UN donations and International donors,” he had said.

“The fund will be used to procure commodities including ventilators; things that are at the moment proven very difficult to acquire through the normal route and the UN system has the advantage of having the reach and will be able to negotiate with the national governments.

“To this end, they have already put in $1.4 billion USD so far with commodities coming in over this week, including about 50 ventilators. I want to emphasize that this fund is completely independent of government, no money will come to the presidential task force or to the Federal Government. The donations will be in kind and that’s what we are encouraging other sectors to please do.”