Coronavirus: UAE donates $10m worth of Covid-19 testing kits to WHO

Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Co-operation, addressed the Global Vaccine Summit 2020 on Thursday

epa08429116 A health worker checks results of rapid testing kits for Covid-19 during blood sample collection conducted on public transport tricycle drivers in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines 18 May 2020. Metro Manila implemented a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), due to the coronavirus pandemic, which will allow select manufacturing and processing plants to reopen with 50 percent of its workforce.  EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA
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The UAE has donated $10 million (Dh36.7m) worth of Covid-19 testing kits, enough for 500,000 people, to the World Health Organisation.

The donation supports global efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus and improve testing in countries where kits are scarce.

To date, the UAE has provided more than 714 tonnes of medical aid to 63 countries in need, valued at more than $130m.

Earlier, Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE Minister of State for International Co-operation, addressed the Global Vaccine Summit 2020.

Ms Al Hashimy said the country remained committed to a future free from disease and to fighting Covid-19.

"I reaffirm my country's commitment to freeing the next generation from disease and creating a healthier, more prosperous world for all through immunisation," Ms Al Hashimy said.

World leaders met at the online conference to raise $7.4 billion for replenish Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, over the next five years.

Ms Al Hashimy highlighted the work the UAE has done with Gavi over many years with other diseases, and recent efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are also dedicating significant resources to the global health agenda focusing on ending preventable diseases that affect the world's poorest," she said.

This week, Ms Al Hashimy attended another online pledging conference, aimed at raising $2.4bn to support aid operations in Yemen and curb the spread of the coronavirus there.