In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU-funded Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA) handed over personal protective equipment (PPE) to the State Border Service of the Kyrgyz Republic. The PPE includes 2000 KN95-filtering respirators, 2000 nitrile gloves, 800 litres of antiseptics, 50 face shields and 300 full-body gowns, which will now be distributed to the border guard units. 

 “At the moment, there is an unprecedented demand and urgent need for materials to help limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Kyrgyzstan. These include personal protective equipment for those at increased risk of exposure in the course of their daily work duties. Border guards are the first points of contact to meet at the border checkpoints in the country. The supplied protective items will contribute to the agency’s capacity to ensure the safe processing of people and goods crossing the border under COVID-19 conditions.” – said Ambassador Eduard Auer, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic. 

This assistance goes in addition to the donation that BOMCA made earlier to the State Customs Service of the Kyrgyz Republic (250 specialized sets of protective suits and other personal protective items).