More medical supplies and sanitary items from the UNFPA are on the way to virus-hit Hubei province in Central China as a support for the country to contain the COVID-19 epidemic.

As part of the United Nations response to the novel coronavirus, the UN Population Fund offers supplies, including sanitary napkins and diapers for frontline health workers, girls and women, particularly pregnant women, in Hubei province.

By Sunday, the first batch of 262,200 sanitary napkins had arrived in Wuhan, Huanggang and Xiaogan – three cities in Hubei province that are among the most affected areas. In the coming days, 315,200 more pieces of adult diapers will be delivered to Hubei.

Also, 33 pieces of eight types of life-saving medical equipment, as well as 639 accessories are on the way to Hubei, which will be distributed to hospitals and health facilities.

Babatunde Ahonsi, the UNFPA representative in China, said the protection needs of women and girls "must be at the center of response efforts".

The Ministry of Commerce, National Health Commission, All-China Women's Federation and local authorities are providing coordination and delivery support.

In view of the evolving COVID-19 situation in China and the safety and health of frontline health workers, the UNFPA will donate more personal protective equipment in the coming weeks. The estimated value of total the UNFPA's donated supplies will be about $480,000.

Early in February, Natalia Kanem, executive director of the UNFPA, sent a letter of solidarity and support to the Chinese government, and committed the agency's support to complement China’s current efforts to contain and control the epidemic.