HCMC – The World Health Organization (WHO) handed over medical supplies and consumables to the Ministry of Health on August 27 as part of the organization’s continuing Covid-19 support for Vietnam.
The donation comprises medical supplies worth US$413,451, including 36,000 surgical masks, 70,000 respiratory masks and 50 sets of high flow nasal cannula systems. More supplies are expected to arrive in Vietnam in the coming days.
“We hope that these supplies will help protect our healthcare workers and save patients’ lives. We have seen their tireless commitment to taking care of the sick and we salute each one of them for their contribution,” Dr. Kidong Park, WHO Representative in Vietnam, said at the handover ceremony.
According to Park, besides these medical supplies and materials, WHO will also provide technical support to the Vietnamese Government on the overall response strategy and stand ready to provide more assistance as needed.
Moreover, he emphasized WHO’s commitment to support the Government in increasing vaccine availability in the country as a co-creator of the global vaccine access mechanism Covax Facility, along with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovations, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF as the delivery partner.
At the handover, Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, said, “These medical supplies and consumables from WHO have arrived at a critical time when the Government and the Vietnamese people are making an effort to control and prevent the spread of Covid-19.”
According to the Deputy Health Minister, the medical supplies donated by WHO will be delivered immediately to HCMC as part of the Covid-19 emergency response for the southern provinces.
“Vietnam also expects WHO’s continuous technical support, especially in the research and development of the treatment and vaccine,” he added.
