The Province of Manitoba is reaching out to businesses for supplies and services to help provide safe environments and personal protective gear in its fight against the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19).
“The Manitoba government is working to contain and reduce the impact of COVID-19, and we’re taking measures to bolster the health system with help from the private sector,” said Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen. “We are soliciting for help to collect the supplies we need in order to guard Manitobans against COVID-19.”
On March 25, 2020, the minister noted that to date the province has invested emergency spending of almost $64 million in critical goods and services including personal protective equipment, ventilators, intravenous pumps and chest compression systems. The province also introduced an online portal asking businesses to assist with supplying or manufacturing certain products.
“To help us further our efforts, our government is reaching out to businesses and their employees for products and supplies and those willing to manufacture items from scratch to assist in our efforts in this fight against COVID-19,” Friesen said. “We recognize that dealing with this pandemic will be a marathon, not a sprint. Support from Manitoba businesses with additional materials will ensure front-line staff have the equipment they need to protect themselves while continuing to provide exemplary care to patients throughout the province.”
This initiative will remove barriers allowing Manitoba businesses and manufacturers to redeploy capacity towards the production of essential equipment.
Products needed:
• N95 respirators,
• surgical/procedure masks,
• nitrile gloves,
• vinyl gloves,
• nasopharyngeal swabs,
• specific types of reagent to be used in labs,
• gowns,
• hand sanitizer,
• cleaning supplies, and
• disinfecting supplies.
Services needed:
• consulting services,
• nursing services,
• food services,
• laundry services,
• accommodation maintenance services,
• personal services,
• IT support services,
• pet care services, and
• transportation services.
“We are ahead of the curve and the goal remains to flatten it. Manitobans are coming together to help each other and it’s time for business to step up,” said Friesen. “We continue to remind Manitobans of these simple but critical and effective steps: wash your hands, keep your distance and stay home.”
For further information on this initiative, click here.
Featured image from the Government of Manitoba.
