27^th October 2020, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka: Today, UN-Habitat distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), selected medical equipment and a number of Information Technology (IT) equipment to the District Secretariat (DS) and Regional Directorate of Health (RDHS), Nuwara Eliya. The effort is to support and strengthen the capacity and equip frontline healthcare workers, Government officials and general public to prevent and control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nuwara Eliya.

This activity is funded by the Government of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) under the project titled “Emergency support and special assistance to marglinalised estate and rural communities in Nuwara Eliya District in Sri Lanka to minimise health hazards of COVID-19 and socioeconomic implications of the pandemic” which is implemented by UN-Habitat.

UN-Habitat is working closely with key partners to support them in effectively and efficiently combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the distribution of PPE (KN 95 masks, disposable masks, reusable masks, overall kits, face shields, gloves), selected medical equipment (thermometers, blood pressure monitoring machines, sterilizers, stethoscopes etc.) and IT equipment (laptops, dongles and external hard drives) was a timely intervention as the containment of COVID-19 remains the top priority in Sri Lanka. The items are officially handed over to Mr W B M Pushakumara, District Secretary/Government Agent of Nuwara Eliya and Dr Imesh Prathapasinghe, Director, RHDS Nuwara Eliya.