The Rotary Club of Apia (R.C.A) is focusing its giving drives to frontline agencies' efforts to protect Samoa's borders and prepare for a potential coronavirus outbreak.

The Rotary Club of Apia decided recently to offer its support to the country's frontline agencies most likely to come into contact with the virus at the centre of the global pandemic.

Three of the club's members distributed a total of 3,000 masks and over 2,000 soap bars to agencies including the Ministry of Revenue & Customs (Customs Division) to the Samoa Ports and Airport Authority.

The donation was distributed on 27 August, the organisation said in a statement. 

"First responders such as the Ministry of Police and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority were also gifted with masks and soaps," the R.C.A. statement read.

"The final organisation to receive a donation from the Rotary Club was the Red Cross Society, particularly for their work within the community."

The R.C.A has also continued to support the isolation wards at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital at Motootua.

Rotary donated equipment including 2000 face masks, 50 dressing packs, 20 wall mounted hand soap dispenser units, three bottles of liquid hand soap and four laundry drying racks.

"Construction of 20 individual ward partitions for the Isolation Ward is currently underway and will be delivered, together with other items to the ward at a later stage," the R.C.A. said.

R.C.A President Joanne McKneely said:

"Samoa is in a very fortunate position to be COVID- 19 free, but we cannot take this for granted and preparations for any possible [...] outbreak is essential for the continued safety of our people in Samoa. 

"Our doctors, nurses and our first responders are essential to all efforts in keeping Samoa COVID-19 free.” 

The R.C.A said it would continue to prioritise COVID–19 preparations as a major focus of its activities.