(Photo: People's Daily)

Beijing (People’s Daily)- After coordinating with Hubei Province government officials, UNICEF sent medical supplies to Wuhan and other parts of China to help with shortages in disease prevention and managing patients who have nCoV. 

UNICEF sent six metric tons of personal protective equipment (PPE) that included masks and protective suits to Shanghai from Copenhagen, Denmark on Wednesday where were then given to Chinese government officials. 

The shipment was sent to Wuhan on Thursday. More items will be dispatched in the coming days and weeks.

The emergence of the novel coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV, has infected nearly 7,800 people in China and other parts of the world since the outbreak began in Wuhan, Hubei Province in December. Cases of children being infected have been reported.

UNICEF China has remained in contact with China’s Ministry of Commerce, the National Health Commission (NHC), the World Health Organization (WHO), other UN partners, along with its regional office and headquarters, to monitor new challenges and needs as the situation unfolds.

UNICEF is concerned with how the virus could impact those who are most vulnerable, particularly children and pregnant women, and has pledged support and solidarity for those affected by the coronavirus outbreak.  

UNICEF will work with WHO and other partners on a coordinated multi-sector response, engage the community to protect children and communities from being exposed to the novel coronavirus. 

UNICEF said it is ready to support the Chinese government in understanding how the virus impacts children and pregnant women and by providing support to reduce fatalities caused by the outbreak.

UNICEF has also reaffirmed its commitment to ramping up its response to support the government and to bolster joint actions to stop the virus outbreak.