Turkey donates 50,000 face masks to cub spread COVID-19

The Embassy of Turkey has given 50,000 face masks to enhance the fight against  COVID-19 pandemic.

The donation was handed to Uganda Red Cross Society by the Turkish Ambassador, Kerem Alp who said the donation follows a call by President Yoweri Museveni to well-wishers to contribute PPEs to curb the spread of coronavirus.

He said the facemasks are for health workers at the frontlines and that since the Uganda Red Cross Society was among the agencies at the forefront in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic it deserved the donation.

The envoy said this while handing over the package to the secretary-general of Uganda Red Cross Society, Robert Kwesiga during a brief ceremony at the Embassy of Turkey at Kololo in Kampala suburb on Friday.

Kerem said the three-layer face masks were manufactured in Turkey and the resources were mobilised by the Turkish Development Agency and non-governmental organizations to aid Ugandans in the fight against the virus.

According to Johns Hopkins University, the COVID-19 pandemic has killed nearly 500, 000 people and more than nine million have been infected as of June 26.

Uganda has over 850 confirmed cases, more than 700 have recovered and so far no deaths have been registered.

"We are grateful to President Yoweri Museveni and the government for keeping the country safe," Kerem said.

He also hailed the government for starting to make its own face mask through the manufacturing companies.

He pointed out that as manufacturing companies try to scale up production, the embassy of Turkey has come in to fill the gap.

"The state of affairs in the country is that face masks are not sufficient enough, although the industries are trying to scale up production, Turkey has come in to the fill the gap," Kerem stated.

Kwesiga said the donation of the face masks was timely.

"COVID-19 is still with us, so we welcome any support to help us to control its spread," Kwesiga said after receiving the donation.

He said PPEs are needed by front line workers to tame the spread of coronavirus.

"It comes in handy for the safety of our staff and health workers," Kwesiga stated.

He noted that the face masks will be delivered to health facilities across the country, which are in the greatest need of them.

During the function, the ambassador also disclosed that three Ugandan students who were stranded in Turkey were evacuated as the consignment was delivered at Entebbe International Airport.