Temasek Foundation has donated 50 Fortitude kits 2.0E Ruo (Reagent) worth SGD 200,000 (USD 143,000) to the High Commission to strengthen Pakistan’s testing capacity in the wake of Covid-19. These locally produced kits are compatible with WHO protocols and have the capacity to conduct 10,000 tests. The consignment was delivered to PDMA, Peshawar on 22nd May through Pakistan High Commission in Singapore.
The donation was offered by Temasek Foundation in a letter addressed to the Foreign Minister by Mr. Benedict Cheong, Chief Executive, Temasek Foundation International, the capacity building arm of Temasek Holding. The delivery of the consignment followed acceptance letter by the Foreign Minister earlier this month, addressed to Mr. Cheong. Temasek Foundation has since been in contact with the Pakistan High Commission and NDMA, to ensure that the labs in Pakistan can read the test kits and the outcomes meet WHO protocols.
Temasek Foundation formally announced the donation in a ceremony today attended by the High Commissioner and Mr. Benedict Cheong. With no vaccine still prepared to treat the infection, testing is the only option to control this highly transmissible disease. The donation is therefore, of critical importance to Pakistan and will help our healthcare system immensely in curtailing the spread of this deadly virus.