COVID-19: Tunisia places orders with Russia for medical equipment

Tunisia has turned to Russia to buy medical equipment including respiratory ventilators and masks for public hospitals amid ongoing fight against novel covid-19 with overall infection toll now over 1,000.

Russian state-run news agency Sputnik revealed the request as the North African country’s envoy to Moscow, Tarak ben Salem, confirmed that the equipment will help combat efficiently the fast spreading the disease in state-run hospital.

Russia according to the diplomat has not process the request yet but promised to attend to it.

The news of the request comes after the World Bank last week approved the allocation of $35 million destined to support the health ministry to address medical crisis.

Tunisia, facing economic challenges compounded the pandemic has received multiple supports from various sources. Aside from the Washington-based financial institution, the IMF has approved a $745m loan to Tunisia. The European Union on its part granted the North African country €250 million while Italy pledged €50 million.

China and Qatar have also provided their supports through delivery of medical equipment.

The overall number of infections in the country rose to 1,013 with 42 fatalities.