by LYDIA NATHAN / pic by TMR FILE 

THE United States embassy in Kuala Lumpur has donated Covid-19 relief assistance including personal protective equipment (PPE) like facemasks, hand sanitisers and thermometers for frontline workers in Malaysia.

This marks the second part of donations provided to Malaysia totaling RM1.02 million (US$250,000) and was made possible through the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) at the U.S. Embassy by the U.S. Department of Defense, USINDOPACOM Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (ODHACA) office.

In an aim to help the country fight the pandemic, the supplies were delivered to the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) in Putrajaya and it included information technology (ICT) equipment that NADMA will use to manage Covid-19 response operations in Malaysia.

NADMA’s Director-General Datuk Dr. Aminuddin bin Hassim said the contribution will be put to good use to assist health frontliners in battling the third wave of Covid-19 spread that is currently ravaging the country.

“This generous gesture is a testament of the U.S. solidarity and strong bilateral ties with Malaysia,” he said.

Earlier this month, the US embassy said that Malaysia will be among the countries to receive Covid-19 vaccines from the US as it plans to donate seven million doses to Asian nations.

In a statement, US President Joe Biden’s administration has announced its framework for sharing at least 80 million US vaccine doses globally by the end of June.