World Health Organization (WHO) has donated another 5000 COVID-19 testing kits to the Maldives.

The handover to the National Emergency Operation Center was accepted today at a special ceremony by the Ministry of Health, Abdulla Ameen. The kits were presented by the WHO Ambassador to the Maldives, Dr. Arvind Mathur.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Ameen said that over 15,000 samples have been tested in the Maldives alone. And as the COVID-19 virus continue to spread globally, nothing about the disease can be taken lightly.

And so, in a scenario where the pandemic hits the Maldives, the government is preparing with the mindset that one of the most important thing for the nation would be the ability to test for the illness. And the government intends to spend on to develop the facilities at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

The WHO Ambassador, Dr. Mathur said that the WHO appreciates the efforts of the Maldivian government to combat the spread of the illness.

WHO has previously donated 6000 testing kits on two occasion. And with the 5000 kits today, the total of 11 ,000 kits have been donated to the Maldives by the WHO.