17 September 2020, Apia Samoa. The US Government has responded following a request from Samoa for stand-by medical supplies amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic.
A shipment of PPE (personal protective equipment) was loaded in Auckland on Friday bound for Samoa and due to arrive 5th October 2020.
In Auckland making sure the shipment was packed and loaded for dispatchment was Ambassador Scott Brown himself, who says he was honored to have the opportunity to assist.
Ambasaddor Brown is the U.S. Ambassador to Samoa based in New Zealand, and he confirmed through a press release that the PPE included, “nearly 100,000 pairs of gloves, tens of thousands of masks, hundreds of surgical gowns, and huge volumes of hand sanitizer.”
“These supplies will help protect healthcare workers should they be called upon to put their lives at risk to treat COVID patients,” says Ambassador Brown.
“Although Samoa is currently COVID-free, the Samoan Government asked us to help them procure medical supplies to have on standby in case the virus reaches their islands;
“We’re happy to help and the U.S. Department of Defense through US INDOPACOM stepped up to get it done,” says the Ambassador.
Worldwide the United States Government has given more than $US20 billion in COVID-related assistance.
“Today’s shipment comes in addition to the $US24.2 million that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has already provided to our NGO partners to help prepare and respond to COVID in the South Pacific,” says Ambassador Brown.
Over the last 20 years, the United States Government has provided over $US5.21 billion in assistance to the Pacific Islands.
Over the last decade, the United States has invested more than $US620 million for health in the Pacific Islands.
