The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD, with a number of Government Departments, the HSE and state agencies are working together to provide assistance to Nepal in response to the worsening COVID-19 outbreak there.
A donation of 72 oxygen concentrators, 42 Ventilators,12 Bipap Machines, 400 Oximeters, 50 Respiratory Monitors, 50 Defibrillators, 100 Thermometers, 1,126 Oxygen and Air Regulators, 99,750 Protective Coveralls, 201,600 Face Shields and 1,008,000 surgical masks will leave Shannon Airport today on a flight to Nepal.
The equipment was donated by the HSE, Respicare, Bons Secours Hospital, Cork, Nepal Ireland Society, Bartra Healthcare, Irish Red Cross, Air Liquide Healthcare, Home Health Care and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny.
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (part of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage) is coordinating the dispatch of this equipment through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, working with the Department of Health, the HSE, Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Transport, Revenue and others. This support from Ireland is part of the coordinated effort by EU Member States currently underway to provide a collaborative response following Nepal’s request for assistance.