The aviation company owned by ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) presidential candidate, Gonzalo Castillo announced the donation of 250,000 facial masks and 30,000 disposable gloves to the National Health Service for use in hospitals caring for coronavirus patients. A Helidosa press release says the items were shipped on board the first airplane of three that traveled to Shanghai, China to purchase the supplies for donation. Castillo said two other flights will bring 100,000 rapid response test kits and another 200,000 facial masks as well as 50,000 protective gear gowns for medics. The medical supplies were delivered to deputy director of the National Health Service, Noerdi Naut, as reported in the press release.
The press release says this is in addition to a previous donation of 24,800 rapid response test kits that were donated to the Ministry of Public Health, the Armed Forces and Police, the Civil Aviation Specialized Security Corps (CESAC) and the Center for Emergency Operations (COE). It also indicates the presidential candidate donated RD$20 million of funding for his campaigned received from the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to non-governmental organizations that are combatting the epidemic.
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El Caribe
15 April 2020