US military donates P10M worth PPEs, supplies to Philippine medical frontliners

US Embassy photo

The US military has donated P10 million worth of medical supplies and equipment for Philippine hospital frontliners across the country, the American embassy said Tuesday.

Service members from the US Army, Marines, and Air Force delivered personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies for hospitals in ten provinces across the country, bringing to P780 million or nearly $15.5 million the total American government COVID-19 assistance to the Philippines.

Supplies include disposable gloves, masks, medical clothing, various types of face protection, and tools such as infrared thermometers.

"The assistance, delivered in conjunction with the US Embassy and Philippine Department of Health, will provide medical clinics from Luzon to Mindanao with much-needed PPE and other essential equipment to support frontline workers battling COVID-19," an embassy statement said.

"This joint US-Philippine operation builds on decades of bilateral military cooperation in counterterrorism, humanitarian relief, maritime security, and many other fields."

By next month, the PPEs and other medical equipment will be distributed to 14  clinics, hospitals, and local Departments of Health in Palawan, Isabela, Tarlac, Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Sulu, Zamboanga del Sur, Maguindanao, and Basilan, the embassy said.

"With this effort, we are trying to do our part to provide the heroes of this fight, the medical professionals, with the necessary tools that they need to protect their fellow workers and citizens. Times like these show the strength of our friendship, partnership, and alliance as we work together to combat this virus,” said Captain Tim Johnson, Team Leader, Civil Military Support Element – Philippines.

As of Monday, the Philippines has recorded 12,718 COVID-19 cases, 831 deaths and 2,729 recoveries. --Michaela del Callar/KBK, GMA News