In the continuous support and contributions to fight COVID-19 pandemic, the United Arab Emirates donated PCR testing kits for COVID-19 to World Health Organization on Friday. The testing kits worth of USD 10 million would be sufficient to test at least 50,000 people.

The donation to WHO was a joint collaboration of UAE, Group 42 (G42), a leading UAE Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence company, and BGI, a Chinese genome sequencing giant.

Group 42 or G42 is an Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing company based out of Abu Dhabi. The company is renowned for its healthcare specialized works, including AI assisted diagnosis.  

The testing kit donation is aimed to provide support to various countries struggling with COVID-19 fight due to scarcity of resources.

UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation H.E. Reem Al Hashimy said in reference to the donation, “The COVID-19 pandemic requires a truly global response coordinated by a strong multilateral system. The UAE’s contribution is a part of the long-standing partnership between our country and the WHO. We are proud to be able to support ongoing global relief efforts by augmenting WHO’s capacity to curb the spread of the disease.”

WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus elaborated on the major contributory effort, “The contribution will strengthen the capacity and availability of testing in many countries. The UAE is a strategic global partner to WHO, and we are deeply greatful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for his continued support for our shared mission to suppress and control COVID-19 globally.”

H.E. Reem Al Hashimy further added over the importance of testing, “We agree with WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the essential role that testing plays in containing COVID-19. Testing also fosters the conditions necessary for global economic recovery by helping to identify patients, ensure that they receive care, and control transmission risk. The UAE will continue its support for the global response to COVID-19 pandemic because solidarity and coordinated, multilateral action are the only ways to counter a threat that knows no borders.”

UAE has been the leading contributor to countries in need. Till date UAE has extended support over 63 nations with contributions of over 714 tons of medical aid.

Currently, G42 in association with BGI is providing RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) testing kits for detection of SARS CoV-2 virus. With over 2 million tests already performed, RT-PCR test kits by BGI are one of the most reliable testing kits for COVID-19.