Bolivia: FONPLATA has donated equipment to strengthen Santa Cruz hospital capabilities
This is the first delivery of medical supplies and equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with COVID-19 to address the health emergency caused by the pandemic, within the framework of the USD 120,000 granted by the Development Bank to the government of the Deparment of Santa Cruz through a non-reimbursable technical cooperation.
In this first stage of the donation, four multiparameter monitors for intermediate care were delivered: two for the La Pampa hospital and two for the San Juan de Dios hospital. The Head of FONPLATA’s Technical Cooperation Unit, José Carlos Lupo, and the Secretary-General of the government of Santa Cruz, Roly Aguilera, were present at the event.
“Through this donation, we want to demonstrate FONPLATA’s sense of social responsibility, especially in this case, in which we benefit our host Department where we have had our headquarters for several years”, stated Lupo on behalf of the Development Bank, and added that also “an ELISA test equipment and its reagents will be delivered, which we hope will add to the efforts the government has been making for several months”.
The Secretary-General of the government of Santa Cruz was thankful and highlighted this cooperation: “FONPLATA was able to add enough synergy so that we can effectively and immediately provide the hospital care we need so much at this moment. (…) In a couple of weeks, we will also receive an ELISA test equipment which will enable us to carry out fast lab tests and provide safety to our health-care staff. (…) This supports and strengthens our lab and our hospital system, and this is the way we engage the active organizations of our society, such as FONPLATA, in this struggle that involves all of us, here in Santa Cruz”, said Aguilera.
In July, the Development Bank approved a USD 120,000 disbursement, to be granted through non-reimbursable technical cooperation, aiming at providing humanitarian aid to the Department of Santa Cruz, that hosts its headquarters, and at contributing to reduce the negative effects of the COVID-19 in the population, as well as its social and economic impact. The donation is managed by FONPLATA in close cooperation and coordination with the General Secretariat of the Government of Santa Cruz.
On March 12, the Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia declared national emergency over the COVID-19 outbreak. Within that framework, Santa Cruz declared its department emergency. Thus, FONPLATA continues to provide its member countries with the resources needed to help mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic in the region.
08/12/2020