Almost R$ 6 million (around US$1,2 million) in tests for Covid-19, personal protective equipment (PPE) and test devices will be donated to state of Amazonas to face the new coronavirus. The material will be transferred by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) Program, United Against Covid-19.
The distribution of products will be monitored by Leônidas & Maria Deane Institute (ILMD / Fiocruz Amazônia), explains the researcher and director of the Fiocruz unit in Amazonas, Sérgio Luz. According to him, 3,000 rapid test kits and R$ 1.2 million (around US$ 200,000) in PPE will be destined for the Alto Rio Negro, Alto Solimões and Vale do Javari indigenous peoples; R$ 1,552 million (around US$ 300,000) in PPE for hospitals in Manaus, in addition to R$ 1.5 million (around US$ 300,000) in equipment for Fiocruz Amazônia to triple its testing capacity for Covid-19.
The products are in the acquisition phase and as soon as they arrive in Manaus they will be sent to institutions and indigenous peoples.
United against Covid-19
The United Against Covid-19 Program is a Fiocruz initiative launched on April 2nd. The Program aims to enhance Oswaldo Cruz Foundation actions in the face of the new coronavirus (Sars-CoV-2) pandemic, by joining public and private sectors efforts, becoming a channel where companies, organizations and interested individuals form an actions supporters network developed by the Institution to face the health emergency.