Delivering essential supplies for combating COVID-19

Following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the high demand for products coupled with logistical and transportation restrictions resulted in a volatile market situation. The main challenges were related to the procurement of equipment for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis and rehabilitation and the associated increased cost for transport. To overcome these challenges, the Korean government through KOICA has allocated a fund to assist countries’ efforts in COVID 19-response. The Government of Ethiopia and the African CDC were among those benefited from this assistance under UNOPS procurement support.

UNOPS Ethiopia Office has implemented the 7.7 million USD project through the provision of procurement and supply chain management services to support emergency humanitarian interventions.

Supplies procured through UNOPS include: infusion pump machine; patient circuit with bag; suction machine; patient monitor with Canography; mobile X-Ray; oxygen concentrators 20LPM; steam sterilizers 80L, and PPEs.

These materials have helped a lot for the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia and the African CDC in building their capacity to mitigate the spread of COVID19.