Welsh government to donate £7m of PPE to Namibia

Over £7m worth of masks, gowns and hand sanitiser are being donated by Wales to Namibia to help the country manage their Covid outbreak.

A further £500,000 grant is being given for oxygen equipment and nurse training.

The stocks of PPE from NHS Wales have been built up over the last 18 months to deal with the pandemic, but have now been judged surplus and available for donation.

The southern African country is currently experiencing its third wave of the pandemic and is suffering from oxygen shortages as well as a lack of personnel with the skills to deliver oxygen.

The equipment will be donated through Cardiff University’s Phoenix Project and follows a grant earlier this year of £125,000 given to promote awareness of coronavirus vaccinations in Namibia.

Earlier this summer, Professor Kenneth Matengu from the University of Namibia met with the First Minister Mark Drakeford in June to report on the grant.

In the meeting Professor Matengu gave his account of the situation in Namibia.

Following the meeting the First Minister asked the Welsh NHS if they had PPE kit that could be sent to Namibia.

The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford said,

"I have heard directly from Namibia on the extremely difficult situation that they face in the battle against COVID-19.

"We have a duty to help those in need and I’m proud that Wales is stepping forward to fight the global threat of coronavirus.

"Wales will stand alongside Namibia and we will do everything we can to help them through this difficult time."