KOICA Supports Rwanda with K-Quarantine Supplies... $405,000 Worth of Diagnostic Kits and More

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] KOICA held a donation ceremony for K-quarantine supplies to respond to COVID-19 on the morning of the 25th (local time) at the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, together with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Rwanda.

At the donation ceremony, key figures from the Korean side included Ambassador to Rwanda Chae Jin-won and Jeon Kyung-sik, head of the KOICA Rwanda office, while from the Rwandan side, Minister of Health Daniel Ngamije and Director of the Rwanda Biomedical Center Sabin Nsanzimana attended.

This supply support was promoted as part of the Korean government’s ‘ODA Korea: Building Trust’ initiative for development cooperation toward a safer world for all. To enhance the visibility and effectiveness of grant cooperation, humanitarian aid from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and KOICA’s ABC program budget were linked to donate K-quarantine supplies worth approximately $405,000 (about 450 million KRW).

The donated items included 26,400 COVID-19 RT-PCR test kits (worth about $300,000), one infectious disease diagnostic vehicle (worth about $55,000), and five walk-through diagnostic booths (worth about $50,000), providing a package of equipment to strengthen COVID-19 diagnostic capabilities.

The COVID-19 quarantine supplies supported by KOICA and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Rwanda this time are planned to be used at international airports, schools, and other places with high demand for diagnostic testing, contributing to rapid and accurate COVID-19 testing and protection of healthcare workers within Rwanda.

Ambassador Chae Jin-won said, “Although the trend of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Rwanda is somewhat calming, concerns about re-spread are increasing with the rise in economic and social activities, so I believe the support was timely. I also expect this to be an opportunity to showcase the excellence of K-quarantine supplies in Rwanda.”

Jeon Kyung-sik, head of the KOICA Rwanda office, stated, “The package-type support for COVID-19 response was possible through cooperation between the Embassy of Rwanda and the KOICA Rwanda office. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and seek tailored support for Rwanda, as well as efforts to support digital transformation in the health sector.”