Canada donates US$5.3m to fight covid19

The Canadian government has donated US$5.3 million or TT$35.87 million to 15 Caribbean countries, TT included, for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) response to the coivd19 pandemic.

A release from PAHO said the money will support increased access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical supplies to assist countries’ efforts to save lives and limit the human-to-human transmission of covid19.

The PAHO/ World Health Organisation (WHO) Trinidad and Tobago country office outlined a plan for the allocation of funds including training for healthcare workers, officials and laboratory personnel, strengthening data collection and surveillance and implementing risk-communication plans.

The WHO describes risk communication as: “An exchange of real-time information, advice and opinions between experts and people facing threats to their health, economic or social well-being.”

Canada’s contribution comes in addition to a donation of CAD$1.5 million or TT$75.04 million to PAHO earlier this year to support the overall regional response to the pandemic.

Funds were used to buy laptops for TT’s Ministry of Health to improve the ability to collect, process and analyse covid19-related clinical and epidemiological data.

The remaining funds are earmarked for training nurses in critical care with UWI, and for medical equipment and supplies for isolation facilities.

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"Canada donates US$5.3m to fight covid19"

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