India sends masks, S’pore testing kits

India yesterday provided 30,000 surgical masks and 15,000 head covers to Bangladesh to help its efforts in combating the coronavirus pandemic.

Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das handed over the equipment to Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at the ministry office, according to a press release of the High Commission.

On March 15, leaders of Saarc -- led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- held a video conference and created the Saarc Emergency Fund to tackle the virus under a common regional strategy.

Already, India has committed its contribution of $10 million, Sri Lanka $5 million, Bangladesh $1.5 million, Afghanistan and Nepal $1 million each, Maldives $200,000 and Bhutan $100,000 -- to combat covid-19.

Preparations are underway to hold video conferences between medical professionals and other stakeholders in India and Bangladesh for discussing specific measures and exchanging best practices to address the disease.

Meanwhile, Singapore sent a total of 10,000 coronavirus test kits to the health and family welfare ministry of Bangladesh yesterday.

Temasek Foundation -- a Singapore-based non-profit organisation -- with the coordination of SingHealth -- the largest network of healthcare institutions of Singapore -- provided the kits, said a press release.

The kits, called "Fortitude Kit 2.0", were designed by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research of Singapore. They were sent along with necessary materials, like primer probes mix and enzyme mix, said the press release.