With the support of the European Union, WHO has supplied oxygen masks, high-flow nasal oxygen therapy devices and rapid tests to Belarus to tackle COVID-19

The equipment meeting all WHO requirements and totaling to 850,000 USD, was purchased and delivered as part of the Solidarity for Health Initiative project funded by the European Union.

5,482 reservoir oxygen masks for respiratory support of oxygen-dependent patients with coronavirus pneumonia have been supplied.

160 High-flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy Devices will be used for severe COVID-19 patients who require noninvasive respiratory support. 

20,000 rapid tests for COVID-19 diagnosis are planned to be distributed to district hospitals that have encountered problems diagnosing COVID-19 because of long time test confirmation or long distance to regional PCR laboratory.

The Head of the European Union Delegation to Belarus, Ambassador Dirk Schuebel, and the WHO Representative to Belarus, Dr. Masoud Dara, presented medical supplies to Boris Androsyuk, he Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, as a part of a broader package of the assistance aimed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Dirk Schuebel, the European Union Ambassador: “The European Union and its Member States stand by the people of the Republic of Belarus in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Today's delivery is yet another example of our support and determination to respond to the immediate needs of the health system. The number of people infected with COVID-19 continues to grow and so is the need for essential equipment. We will continue to provide the necessary assistance in partnership with the WHO and other International Organisations in the context of the European Union's Solidarity for Health Initiative.”

Dr Masoud Dara, Special Representative of the WHO Regional Director for Belarus/Head of the WHO Country Office in Belarus: “The tests and equipment obtained thanks to the European Union will help to control the spread of the coronavirus infection and provide the necessary assistance to the patients suffering from COVID-19. WHO will continue to work with the Republic of Belarus to deliver the necessary supplies, protect medical staff and patients, and save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to the EU for funding this latest delivery of tests and medical supplies."

Boris Androsyuk, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus: “On behalf of the Ministry of Health, I express gratitude to the EU and WHO for financial support, humanitarian aid and additional supplies of personal protective equipment. This aid will be distributed and delivered to the regions in the next day or two. A week ago we announced the beginning of the so-called third wave of coronavirus, so this aid is very timely indeed”.

About the project

The Solidarity for Health Initiative is funded by the European Union in six countries of the Eastern European region: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine. It aims to ensure an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to strengthen the capacity of national health systems to prevent, prepare for, detect and respond to public health emergencies. The project is implemented by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and WHO country offices in close coordination with EU Delegations, national authorities and development partners, including those in the United Nations system. The project has a duration of 2 years, from March 27, 2020 to March 26, 2022.

Source of information for journalists:

● Updated information on the latest statistics on COVID-19 from WHO Headquarters (WHO HQ), WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe).

The detailed status information is provided through a real-time interactive dashboard system.

● More information and advice on COVID-19 for the public is available on the WHO website COVID-19 advice for public

● Information from the Delegation of the European Union to Belarus at eeas.europa.eu/belarus

● Information about the European Union-funded projects in Belarus at www.euprojects.by

For more information please contact:

Tatsiana Aliakseyeva

EU Press and Information Coordinator, Cooperation Programmes Unit, Delegation of the European Union to Belarus

Phone: +375 (17) 328-66-13, E-mail: Tatsiana.ALIAKSEYEVA@eeas.europa.eu

Sviatlana Stakhouskaya

Communications Officer, WHO Country Office in Belarus

Phone: 8 (017) 222-04-19 (office), E-mail: stakhouskayas@who.int