Japan handed over 2,000 sets of high quality personal protective equipment to the health and family welfare ministry today as part of its support to Bangladesh in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Government of Japan and JICA will continue to support measures taken by the government of Bangladesh to…take a leading and active approach to this global crisis," said Naoki Ito, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh.

Ambassador Naoki and Hirata Hitoshi, chief representatives of JICA Bangladesh office, handed over the PPEs, including masks, gowns and goggles, to the ministry at the secretariat today.

Md Asadul Islam, secretary of health services division (HSD), received the PPEs.

Ito said, "I am very pleased that these medical materials will be provided to health workers who are at the forefront of the COVID-19 battle."

Secretary Islam said, "With support from Japan, we can strengthen our efforts to combat COVID-19."

The PPEs will be distributed to the frontline health workers engaged in technical cooperation project of "Strengthening Health Systems through Organizing Communities (SHASTO)" in Narsingdi, Cox's Bazar and Dhaka city (north).

The project started in 2017 to strengthen prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh.

Apart from this, another 2,000 sets of PPEs will be distributed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Kurmitola General Hospital and Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital through the technical cooperation project of "Capacity Building for Nursing Services", which is being implemented since 2016 with the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery as a main partner.

https://www.thedailystar.net/coronavirus-outbreak-japan-provides-2000-ppe-bangladesh-1901932