Temasek Foundation provides 10,000 Fortitude Kit 2.0 to Nepal to tackle novel coronavirus

Published On: April 25, 2020 09:36 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Photo courtesy: Temasek Foundation

KATHMANDU, April 25: Temasek Foundation, a philanthropic organization under Singapore investment company, Temasek, has provided 10,000 Fortitude Kit 2.0 to Nepal.

The kits were provided to Nepal Army which will be deployed by frontline health workers to test COVID-19 patients all across the country, according to a press release issued by the Foundation on Saturday.

Fortitude Kit 2.0 is designed by Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*START) to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

This is an “All-in-One’ 1-step RT-PCR kit for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The kit comes complete with all the materials required for the RT-PCR reaction, which includes the primer probes mix, the enzyme mix, the positive control, negative control and internal control template.

“In these difficult times, Temasek Foundation stands in solidarity with our friends from Nepal. We hope that these test kits will be helpful to the hospitals and medical professionals who are bravely managing the COVID-19 situation in Nepal. We will build on our on-going ties and continue to work with each other and with the international community," Benedict Cheong, chief executive of Temasek Foundation International, was quoted in the press release as saying.

The Foundation has also extended its sincere gratitude to Nepal Government CCMC, Health Ministry, Civil Society members Dr Bijendra Baral, Ranjit Acharya and Neil Pande for their coordination efforts.

"This couldn't have been possible without the kind help of Shree Airlines and 2 generous private sector stalwarts Pashupati Murarka and Shekhar Golchha, who chartered the flight to carry the goods from Singapore," the company stated.

Earler, the Foundation had also helped Nepal to strengthen wall structures of public schools as part of disaster mitigation efforts back in 2014. The Foundation supports programs that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and beyond.

"We aim to strengthen social resilience, foster international exchange and enhance regional capabilities, and advance science and nature for a sustainable world," the Foundation added.