Germany donates 7 million masks to WHO to help protect Egyptian health care professionals

The German Ambassador Frank Hartmann handed over a donation of 7 million masks to WHO, which were received by the WHO Representative to Egypt Dr Naeema Al Gasseer at the premises of the German Embassy in Egypt. The masks were donated by the German Federal Ministry of Health from its own stocks and will be distributed to medical facilities all over Egypt to help protect health care workers.  

Ambassador Hartmann thanked WHO colleagues for their logistic support and said: “Germany has been standing by Egypt’s side in the fight against the pandemic since it began. As we brace ourselves for an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, we must not forget the health care professionals who have been and are still working tirelessly on the frontlines every day. They have played an absolute key role in curbing the spread of the virus and saving lives and I am happy that with the help of our partners from WHO and the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, we can support them in their indispensable work with this donation.” 

Dr Naeema Al Gasseer, WHO Representative in Egypt stated, “WHO appreciates this generous contribution from the Government of Germany, which is a symbol of solidarity to support Egypt in its battle against COVID-19. Wearing masks is a crucial component in WHO’s comprehensive prevention and control package to limit the transmission of coronavirus. This year is the International Year for Health and Care workers, so we must unite to provide them with the support they deserve. We are happy to announce that frontline health care workers will benefit particularly from this donation. Also, we acknowledge the active role and relentless efforts that are being exerted by the Ministry of Health and Population to halt the pandemic, save lives and promote health among people who live in Egypt.”

This supply of masks is just one part of Germany’s support for Egypt in the fight against the pandemic. As the second biggest donor of the multilateral platform Act-A with its vaccine pillar the COVAX Facility, Germany is committed to ensuring fair, transparent, and affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines, medicines and diagnostics around the globe, including our goal to protect frontline workers. Egypt has already received over 4 million vaccine doses via the COVAX Facility and there are more to come. Vaccination campaigns and preventive measures remain key when it comes to fighting the pandemic and mitigating its impact. No country alone can overcome this health crisis, the fight against the virus remains a global task that needs to be tackled in a spirit of cooperation and solidarity.