U.S. Consulate General in Recife donates PPE to fight COVID-19

Personal protective equipment was donated to the SAMU on Friday, October 23

Recife, October 23, 2020 – Combating the Covid-19 pandemic is a priority for the governments of the United States and Brazil. This Friday (October 23), the U.S. Consulate General donated approximately 25,000 masks, 14,000 gloves and 12,000 disposable aprons to the Emergency Medical Care Service (SAMU). This donation amounts to $48,472 (approximately 232,000 reais). The delivery of the personal protective equipment (PPE) was made by the US Consul General Jessica Simon.

The donation from the U.S. government was made through the U.S. Department of Defense Southern Command. “SAMU was chosen to distribute these essential items due to its management skills and its mission to provide emergency assistance to those most in need. Without a partner like SAMU it would be very difficult to reach the professionals who need these accessories to work,” said the Consul General. Besides Jessica Simon, the Executive Director of Health, Eliane Germano, and the coordinator of SAMU Metropolitano do Recife, Dr. Leonardo Gomes, were also present. For him, the donation of the consulate is a recognition of the work of the emergency service. “These are very high level materials that will be used not only in the Covid-19 service, but for other health calls. Some PPEs, like the apron, will last up to two years,” said the SAMU coordinator.

The consulate will make a second donation to the state of Pernambuco, next Tuesday (27/10), of hygiene kits and baskets for the Compaz Escritor Ariano Suassuna, in the neighborhood of Cordeiro. The kits will be delivered to families impacted by economic difficulties due to the pandemic. In total, these two donations to Brazilian government institutions are worth 98,459 dollars (approximately 550,000 reais).

Follow Ambassador Chapman on Twitter @USAmbBR. The information is regularly updated on our website. Our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Flickr accounts also provide regular updates.

For more information about this Press Release, please contact the Press Office of the US Consulate General in Recife at (81) 99910 9745.