UNDP Resident Representative for the Pacific Office and UN Resident Coordinator a.i. Mr. Levan Bouadze officially hand over the PPE consignment to Minister of Health and Medical Services, Hon. Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete
29 September 2021, New York: The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) Asia-Pacific Regional Office in collaboration with the UNOSSC Cities Project team and its partners in China’s Fujian province and Wuhan city mobilized Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical supplies worth FJ$160,000 to support Fiji’s national effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
With logistics support from UNDP China Country Office, the consignment arrived this week into Fiji consisting of 600,000 disposable masks and 10,000 disposable coveralls. In addition, UNOSSC contributed US$15,000 worth of beds, linens and pillowcases in support of the collaboration with Fiji through the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Suva, Fiji.
The PPE supplies were formally handed over by the UNDP Resident Representative for the Pacific Office and UN Resident Coordinator a.i. Mr. Levan Bouadze to the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon. Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete at the IMT Warehouse in Suva.
In his remarks, Mr. Bouadze expressed his appreciation to the Hon. Minister for Health, his officials, and front liners for their hard work around the clock. “The COVID-19 pandemic has put enormous burden on healthcare systems not only here in Fiji but also around the world, it has stretched national capacities to the breaking point and created shortages of life saving medical supplies and equipment.”
Mr Bouadze added, “In this collective fight against the pandemic, I want to assure you that the UN is working on multiple tracks in support of the Government of Fiji to manage the pandemic and build back better from it especially for the marginalized and the most vulnerable in the community.”
In his statement congratulating all the partners, Mr. Adel Abdellatif, UNOSSC Director a.i. noted that this is a good example of how South-South cooperation can respond to the needs of the countries that the UN serves, with every UN entity using its leverage to contribute to a common objective.
He also pointed out that many countries applauded the role that South-South Cooperation has played in these challenging times, and affirmed UNOSSC’s commitment to facilitating recovery action, in line with other approaches including green recovery and building back better.
In his response, Minister Waqainabete acknowledged the timely assistance provided by UNOSSC and its generous Chinese partners, including the government of Fujian Province and the Wuhan Zonsen Group.
He said the PPE are an essential resource for the health care professionals, and such assistance rendered by Fiji’s development partners complement the commendable efforts of thousands of Fiji’s frontline workers who have dedicated their lives to serve the nation and safeguard the wellbeing of their fellow Fijians.
Hon. Waqainabete said the assistance will enhance the Health Ministry’s efforts to safely and effectively deliver the public health response to contain the pandemic, and ultimately move forward to recovery.
Photo Caption: Upper left: Mr. LUO Guansheng, Vice President of Fujian Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Upper right: Ms. Cynthia Ye, Vice General Manager of Wuhan Zonsen Group; Bottom: Wuhan Zonsen Group preparing for logistics
The UNOSSC Regional Office for Asia-Pacific continues to support South-South cooperation in this dynamic, fast-growing and diversified region. It facilitates knowledge exchanges, forging strategic partnerships through South-South and triangular cooperation, mapping Southern development solutions, and undertaking outreach, advocacy and strategic communication on issues of critical importance to the South that call for South-South dialogue and solutions. As many of the countries and their respective institutions work outside the Asia-Pacific, the Office similarly works on intra-regional and inter-regional initiatives.
For more information, please contact: Ministry of Foreign Affairs P.O. Box 2220, Government Buildings, Suva, Fiji anshoo.chandra@foreignaffairs.gov.fj Tel: (679) 330 9645 Levels 1&2, South Wing, iTaukei Trust Fund Complex, 87 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Nasese