MINSK, 13 April (BelTA) – The humanitarian aid from Uzbekistan will be distributed among hospitals fighting COVID-19, Belarus’ Deputy Healthcare Minister Boris Androsyuk told reporters, BelTA has learned.
“The humanitarian aid from Uzbekistan will be distributed among the healthcare organizations that are in the frontline of the fight against coronavirus,” Boris Androsyuk said. “We have received personal protection equipment. This topic is relevant now. This is the number one problem in all countries. Belarus is currently investing a lot of money and effort into this. As you know, we make protection items ourselves. As they say, timely help is everything, especially from a friend. We really have very good relations with Uzbekistan. We have met many times, and I think such a step will only strengthen our friendly and business relations,” he said.
The deputy minister noted that as of today the country's healthcare workers are provided with everything they need. “But PPE items can never be enough, so we will increase their supplies,” he added.
On the instruction of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a plane with medical supplies was sent to Belarus. The IL-76 military aircraft arrived at Minsk National Airport on the night of 11-12 April. Uzbekistan has sent disposable overalls, respirators, goggles, latex gloves and masks - a total of 513,000 protective equipment items. The plane delivered 500,000 meters of gauze, 50,000 packages of antiseptics and 10,000 liters of medical alcohol. The humanitarian cargo handover ceremony took place in Minsk on 13 April.
The cargo is intended for the Belarusian people as a gesture of goodwill from the Uzbekistan president, which emphasizes the friendly nature of both Belarusian-Uzbek relations in general and also between the leaders of the two countries. Belarusian tractors have been handed over to Uzbekistan as a sign of gratitude. Two MTZ-82 tractors were loaded into the same plane and sent to Tashkent.