The Country Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Belarus has handed over a new batch of COVID-19 diagnostics and treatment equipment – coronavirus test systems and pulse oximeters – to the country's healthcare system, BelTA learned from the WHO Country Office.

The $257,000 worth of equipment from the world's leading manufacturers was delivered under the project “Supporting WHO's preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic”, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The equipment meets all the WHO requirements.

The National Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health received a batch of 16,450 test systems to diagnose coronavirus infection by PCR, 16,450 disposable kits for sampling, 20 kits for extraction of nucleic acids and 3 magnetic tripods. “The purchased test systems will help the laboratory service of Belarus produce a more efficient response amid the growing COVID-19 incidence,” the office said.

The National Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health received 115 pulse oximeters. Under the project, 11 patient monitoring systems worth $23,000 will be delivered in the near future. The center will distribute the equipment to the country's health facilities where additional support will be most required.

Earlier, USAID and the WHO supported the delivery of 250 oxygen concentrators worth $211,000. The equipment was transferred to the republican reserve.