In response to the request issued by the Presidents of Central American Integration System (SICA) countries at a meeting convened on March 12, 2020, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) authorized an emergency aid in favor of the Member States of the SICA, under a Non-Refundable Financial Cooperation modality, to complement national efforts for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19.
Those funds will be used to purchase COVID-19 detection test kits, sample collection kits, kits for the RNA extraction process, equipment, and instruments for use.
Today, July 16th, 2020, CABEI donated 260 AccuPrep Viral RNA Extraction Kits, Spin Column type (100 extractions each), equivalent to 26,000 units, of Korean origin, produced by Bioneer Co. The donation also included 16,000 units of sample kits Clinical Virus Transport Medium – CTM – (with Nasopharyngeal & Oropharyngeal Swab), of Korean origin, produced by Noble Biosciences, Inc., for the extraction and sample required for the early detection of COVID-19. Belize had previously declared to CABEI that the kits are functional and in accordance with the diagnostic processes carried out in the country. This donation is valued at BZ$300,000.
This donation is in addition to the US$1 million grant the Government of Belize received from CABEI in mid-April 2020 to fund Belize’s response to COVID-19.
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration remains committed to assisting the people and Government of Belize in the fight against COVID-19 by providing resources to allow countries to address the socio-economic impact.
