Wales is gifting over £7m worth of PPE to Namibia as part of efforts to help the global fight against COVID-19.
£7.2m worth of masks, gowns, aprons and hand sanitiser which has been deemed as not needed in Wales is being donated to the South African country, while a further £500,000 grant is being given for oxygen equipment and the training of nurses.
Namibia has an insufficient health infrastructure, which was been exposed by a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic that it has been facing. Cases in the county have fallen recently after a peak last month, though resources are still reported to be stretched.
Speaking about the donations, First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford said;
“I have heard directly from Namibia on the extremely difficult situation that they face in the battle against COVID-19.
“We have a duty to help those in need and I’m proud that Wales is stepping forward to fight the global threat of coronavirus.
“Wales will stand alongside Namibia and we will do everything we can to help them through this difficult time.”
The supply of equipment and grant funding comes following a previous grant and discussions held between Mr Drakeford and Professor Kenneth Matengu from the University of Namibia earlier this year.
Equipment is to be donated through Cardiff University’s Phoenix Project, which is a partnership between Cardiff University and the University of Namibia working to reduce poverty, promote health and a sustainable environment.
The donations are to be shipped next week and are expected to arrive in Namibia 20 days after their departure.
Wales and the wider United Kingdom have supported a number of countries around the world during the pandemic by offering PPE and other equipment during shortages. At some points in the pandemic, resources have also been shared between different parts of the UK.
