ADB delivers medical equipment to support Kyrgyzstan’s COVID-19 response

Bishkek, June 30, 2021. / Kabar /. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has delivered more than 2.5 million items of personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers in the Kyrgyz Republic as the country continues to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, ADB reported.

The resources for the procurement and delivery of the supplies were drawn from the grant component of ADB’s USD 20 million COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency Project approved in June 2020. The supplies consist of:

Masks (FFP2) – 300,000 pieces
Disposable Protective Coveralls – 300,000 pieces
Nitrile Disposable Gloves – 1,200,000 pieces
Personal Protective Equipment Kit (medical gown, cap, surgical disposable masks type IIR, protective shoe covers) – 120,000 pieces
High shoe covers – 600,000 pieces
Protective Goggles – 5,000 pieces

The items were procured in response to the needs of the Ministry of Health and have been distributed to COVID-19 isolation units in 81 hospitals of Chui, Issyk-Kul, Naryn, Talas, Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken regions.

“With the successful delivery of the medical supplies, we are pleased to have distributed them to hospitals across the country,” said ADB Country Director for Kyrgyz Republic Kanokpan Lao-Araya. “These supplies are critical for protecting frontline health workers in their hour of need. ADB is fully committed to helping the Kyrgyz Republic overcome and recover from the pandemic sustainably.”

Aside from the medical supplies, ADB’s USD 20 million package will help improve facilities at hospitals designated as COVID-19 treatment centers. These hospitals will benefit from additional ICU beds, ambulances, and other medical supplies.

ADB also approved a USD 50 million loan and grant financing package in May last year to help the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic contain the spread of the pandemic, ensure social protection for vulnerable segments of society, and deliver a pro-poor fiscal stimulus.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.