In partnership with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the Canadian Government recently provided support totalling 357 000 Canadian dollars to the Government of Suriname for its national response to COVID-19. The assistance included personal protective equipment (PPE) for front line health care workers. The donation consisted of 28 400 face shields, 2 000 pairs of goggles, 186 000 medical masks, 34 800 respirator masks, and 4 300 isolation gowns.
In addition to donated supplies, the Canadian Government is also supporting activities outlined in the National COVID-19 Response Plan through a technical cooperation agreement with the PAHO/WHO Country Office in Suriname. These activities include strengthening surveillance systems, improving capacity for case investigation and contact tracing, training in COVID-19 case management among health care workers and improving infection prevention and control in long-term care facilities and hard-to-reach communities to protect the most vulnerable.
PAHO/WHO, in collaboration with a US-based NGO, Direct Relief, also recently handed over 130 000 US dollars of hospital equipment, medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Suriname Ministry of Health in response to the continuing surge of COVID-19 cases in the country.