More COVID-19 test kits and humanitarian supplies for TC Harold come in from Australia

Another Royal Australian Air Force C-17 aircraft landed in Nadi today carrying 360 GeneXpert test cartridges to enable more local testing for COVID-19 and $402,000 worth of humanitarian supplies to support Fiji’s response to TC Harold.

The Australian High Commission says Australia and the World Health Organization are working together to ensure Fiji and other Pacific Island neighbours across the region have access to high-quality testing equipment to detect and combat COVID-19.

The GeneXpert system can produce accurate results within 45 minutes and allows direct detection of the presence of the SARS-CoV−2 virus, which causes COVID−19, in swabs or other samples.

Australia has contributed $1.46 million towards the WHO procurement of 96,591 GeneXpert PCR testing cartridges and three additional GeneXpert PCR machines, to enable in-country diagnostic testing for COVID−19 across the Pacific.

Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes, was at Nadi Airport to receive the aircraft, and said the GeneXpert cartridges would strengthen Fiji’s capacity to quickly and reliably test for COVID-19.

Feakes says staff from the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services have done phenomenal work over the last couple of months to detect and contain the spread of COVID-19, and Australia will continue to support their efforts by ensuring the Fijian vuvale have access to accurate and high-quality testing equipment.

This delivery of test kits is one of many expected to arrive in Fiji over coming weeks.

In addition to the 360 test cartridges and 1000 Ceftriaxone antibiotic injections, the aircraft also delivered an additional $402,000 of humanitarian supplies to support Fiji’s response to TC Harold including:

2600 Mosquito nets for beds

200 Blankets

200 Sleeping mats

175 Family tents

10 Chainsaws

5 Generators 8KVA

100 First aid kits

4 Thermal foggers to combat mosquitos

100 litres of Pyrethrin insecticide

5 Respirator kits for workers combatting mosquitos

6 Flat pack 1000 litre water tanks

396 Hygiene kits

720 Tarpaulins

The aircraft also carried UNICEF supplies including tents and WASH kits as part of Australia’s ongoing cooperation with United Nations’ agencies.