Govt. seeks funds from INGOs and NGOs for Covid battle

Assistance sought for oxygen machines and other medical supplies

The Government has requested International Non- Governmental Organisations (INGOs) and local NGOs to donate their allocated funds for the remaining quarters of the year for the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic which has surged to critical proportions in recent weeks.

Raja Goonaratne, Director- General ( DG) of the National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations, told the Sunday Times that considering the current COVID-19 crisis in the country, he had requested INGOs and NGOs to donate the balance funds to the healthcare machinery that is short of supplies.

On Tuesday, the DG called for an urgent zoom meeting with heads of INGOs and NGOs to explain the urgent need to meet the medical requirements of the country in the battle against the pandemic.

The next day, he gave comprehensive details of the medical requirements for public hospitals.

“As the government is making every effort to control the pandemic and ensure the safety of the people, the INGOs and NGOs also have a big role to play at this critical juncture,” Mr. Goonaratne said in a letter.

He also noted that Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi had informed him of the urgent need to buy High Flow Oxygen machines for state hospitals and look into the possibility of buying those

machines with the assistance of INGOs and NGOs.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry's Biomedical Engineering Services Division has approved the purchase of 26 High Flow Nasal Oxygen machines each costing Rs 1.23 million. The machines will be bought from New Zealand on a tax-free basis under a two-year warranty contract.

Mr. Goonaratne said already three NGOS had responded to the appeal and agreed to donate money to buy High Flow Nasal Oxygen Machines.