US donates 18,000 test kits vs COVID-19
The test kits will go to the Philippine Genome Center (Photo from the PGC Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — The US government has boosted the country’s national COVID-19 response through donations of health equipment and logistics kits.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), these donations include 18,000 rapid antigen and other test kits and TaqPath COVID testing reagents for the Philippine Genome Center, which allows for 10,000 more tests.
The Philippines also received assorted personal protective equipment, the DOH said.
“Working with the international community has helped keep Filipinos and Philippines health systems at low risk through the worst parts of this pandemic,” said Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer in charge of DOH, as she expressed gratitude to the US government for the donation.
The United States Agency for International Development, in support of the Philippines’ PinasLakas vaccination and booster campaign, initiated a pediatric vaccination activity with handover of COVID-19 aid and logistical equipment on Saturday in Manila.
Present during the event were US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Vergeire and Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna.
Through the COVAX Facility, the United States has donated more than 33 million life-saving vaccines to the Philippines, consisting of Pfizer, Moderna and J&J platforms.
—TINA G. SANTOS
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