AFP receives P57M worth of pandemic supplies from Australia

The Australian government on Tuesday donated P57 million worth of medical equipment, supplies and personal protective equipment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the military said Wednesday.

In a statement, the AFP said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and AFP chief Lieutenant General Jose Faustino Jr. officially received the donations in a ceremony at Pier 15, South Harbor in Manila.

Among donated items were:

• high flow oxygen machines
• stretchers
• defibrillators
• disinfection kits
• Automated RNA Extraction kit
• Viral RNA Extraction kit
• RT-PCR Reagents and Detection kit
• face masks
• face shields
• PPE level 3 and level 4 sets
• eye protectors
• KN95 masks

The AFP said these will be delivered to the Victoriano Luna Medical Center (VLMC) to support its COVID19 response, testing efforts and capacity for hospitalization of minor to critical patients.

Lorenzana said Australia’s Defense Cooperation Program has expanded to cover the pandemic needs of Filipino soldiers.

“Certainly, these donations will ramp up the day-to-day clinical management and quality of care and service which AFP’s medical arm is expected to provide,” he said.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson said he is pleased that his country is able to provide flexible and responsive support to the Philippines.

“These additional medical and personal protective equipment will be critical in VLMC’s COVID-19 testing efforts, and treatment of COVID patients,” Robinson said.

Faustino thanked the Australian government and vowed that the donations will be maintained and used properly.  —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News