The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has procured some medical equipment and gears to assist in the fight against the novel coronavirus in the sub-region including Ghana.

In an April 6 communique, the body explained that it continues to closely monitor the evolution of the outbreak, “reaffirms its solidarity with Member States and welcomes all the measures already taken to contain the spread of the pandemic and care for the sick.”

The items dispatched by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) to assist its 15-member states including Ghana, comprise of 30,500 diagnostic test kits, 10,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), 740,000 prescription tablets (Chloroquine and Azithromycin).

ECOWAS has also placed orders to acquire other medical essentials for states.

These are 240,000 diagnostic kits, 240,000 extraction kits, 250,000 viral sample transport equipment, 285,100 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), 268,100 masks for medical personnel, 120 ventilators and several thousand litres of alcohol gel and disinfectants.

The press release which was signed by the commission’s President, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou stated that its specialised health institution responsible for coordinating the response at the regional level, WAHO, has drawn up a Regional Strategic Plan with all Member States.

“WAHO is also working, in close collaboration with the specialised services in Member States, to deploy personnel and epidemiological surveillance and data collection tools, strengthen the capacity of reference laboratories and train technical personnel,” the communique read.

ECOWAS also encouraged citizens of member-states to comply with measures instituted by authorities in their respective bids to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“The ECOWAS Commission is taking this opportunity to urge people to continue to implement the measures recommended by the health authorities, and to comply with the prescribed hygiene guidelines.”