Press releases

21 May 2020

Belarusian Red Cross raises Br1.750m for COVID-19 response

An archive photo

MINSK, 21 May (BelTA) - The Belarusian Red Cross has raised Br1.750 million from international and local partners for COVID-19 response, BelTA learned from the the Belarusian Red Cross Society.

The funds have been spent on purchasing medical equipment and personal protection equipment for the Red Cross medical and social service Dapamoga, volunteers and social workers who help the vulnerable categories of citizens (including the elderly who are now at risk), and helping medical personnel of healthcare facilities.

“This is the first time that the Belarusian Red Cross has faced such an emergency. This is a new challenge for us. But we were able to mobilize quickly and attract resources to respond to the spread of COVID-19. In the current conditions, the organization's activities are aimed at supporting some groups of the population: lonely elderly people, people in forced self-isolation, to whom we provide a variety of assistance. But we also understand how important it is to ensure the protection of those who are now on the front lines, so we try to support the employees of medical and social institutions who risk their own health every day for the benefit of others,” said Romania Skomoroshko, Deputy Secretary General of the Belarusian Red Cross Society.

The raised funds have been used to purchase more than 169,000 gloves, more than 4,200 face masks, more than 10,100 liters of disinfectants, almost 4,400 medical overalls, more than 17,000 FFP2 respirators, hundreds of medical caps, protective shields, medical armbands, shoe covers, medical aprons and an X-ray device. The aid was distributed among 156 hospitals and clinics.

Fifty-seven more hospitals received almost 29,300 liters of drinking and mineral water, 4,200 liters of fizzy drinks. Eight hospitals got 1,500 breakfasts, over 6,570 lunches and 3,000 coffees.

Substantial assistance has been also provided to social workers. Some 55 orphanages got 42,800 gloves, almost 1,400 face masks and about 3,500 FFP2 respirators, 3,400 liters of disinfectants, 2,500 medical suits, shoe covers, medical aprons and armbands, protective shields, contactless thermometers. More than 193,000 gloves, 6,500 masks, 12,000 liters of disinfectants were given to 131 territorial social centers.

Focusing on the needs of medical and social workers, the organization buys large amounts of reliable and high-quality PPE.