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UNDP in China supporting procurement of urgent medical supplies for developing countries

UNDP in China supporting procurement of urgent medical supplies for developing countries

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Supplies of personal protection equipment (PPE), masks and other medical items made in China are being sent to developing countries to support health workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in the country has said. 

Beate Trankmann reported that her office has been supporting China’s response to the disease from the beginning, which first emerged there in late December.

China has now ramped up production of medical supplies and is also one of the few markets not currently banning exports, so the UNDP office has been helping colleagues globally with procurement.

Ms. Trankmann spoke to Siwen Qian about the complications of securing supplies, how UNDP is ensuring the quality of the items being procured, and the pandemic’s impact on China’s economic development and its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Audio Credit
Siwen Qian, UN News - Chinese
Audio
11'22"
Photo Credit
UNDP China