China donates PPE to South Ayrshire carers thanks to Provost

The area faced a shortage of protective equipment

Thousands of PPE items were donated from China to South Ayrshire carers through a Provost's links with the country.

South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie said the delivery, which arrived during a severe shortage, helped save lives. 

China donated 13,000 masks, 1000 gloves and seven thermometers as the pandemic began to spread in the local area. 

The Prestwick councillor visited the Shandong province last year in a bid to woo investors and tourists to the area. 

Councillor Moonie said: “I am so grateful to our Chinese friends for their invaluable contribution, I have no doubt that the timely delivery of thousands of face masks and gloves, helped save lives.

“At the start of the pandemic, our Care at Home Team were in real need of PPE and staff were so appreciative when the Chinese stepped in to help.

She added: “China was still feeling the effects of the virus themselves at that time, so it’s really humbling that thousands of items were donated. Last year, I met so many wonderful people when I visited China, but I had no idea that some of those contacts would go above and beyond, to help us in our time of need.”

The South Ayrshire health and social care team need about £370,000 masks, aprons and gloves along with 200 googles per month. 

The council had problems getting hold of protective equipment in the early days of the pandemic.

A worried son said council carers who looked after his mother feared for their safety in March due to a lack of PPE.

Councillor Moonie supported efforts to source protective equipment for staff through her associates in China.

Links have been growing between the two areas for a number of years with Provost Moonie building the contact. 

A Chinese delegation from the large city of Liaocheng visited Ayr in 2018.

The visitors explored ways to boost trade with South Ayrshire businesses.