Thursday 3 February 2022 | Written by RNZ | Published in Regional
Health Minister Tinte Itinteang told RNZ Pacific that a five-person team including "doctors, nurses and logistical staff" had arrived in the country from Australia.
He said the Australian medical assistance team (AUSTMAT) will be in Tarawa for 10-days to assess the Covid-19 situation and prepare the nation for the next stage in its response.
"Obviously New Zealand works very closely with Australia and I suspect the assessment of the AUSMAT assessment team will then be captured and then be acted on by both the DFAT of Australia and MFAT of New Zealand," Itinteang said.
AUSMAT brought with them medical supplies and 27,300 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines and will provide support to local health authorities.
The AUSMAT Rapid Assessment team will be quarantined at Utireirei Motel before they start their scoping mission.