WHO supports Vietnam’s COVID-19 fight
The World Health Organization (WHO) has handed over medical supplies and consumables to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health as part of its continuing support to the country's COVID-19 fight.
This support package of WHO, worth 413,451 USD, includes 36,000 surgical masks, 70,000 respirator masks and 50 sets of High Flow Nasal Cannula systems to Vietnam. More supplies are expected to arrive in coming days.
“We hope that these supplies will help protect our health care workers and save patients’ lives. We have seen their tireless commitment to take care of the sick and we salute each one of them for their contribution.” Dr. Kidong Park, WHO Representative in Vietnam, said during the handing over ceremony on August 28.
According to the WHO Representative in Vietnam, "more than these medical supplies and materials, WHO continues to provide technical support to the (Vietnamese) Government on the overall response strategy and we stand ready to provide more assistance as needed".
He also emphasised WHO’s commitment to support the Government in increasing vaccine availability in the country as a co-creator of the COVAX Facility, along the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF as the delivery partner.
At the handover ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan expressed the gratitude to WHO. "These medical supplies and consumables from WHO have arrived at the critical time as the Government and Vietnamese people are making effort to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19", he said.
According to the Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health, the medical suplies will be delivered immediately to Ho Chi Minh City as COVID-19 emergency response for southern provinces. "Vietnam also expects WHO’s continuous technical support, especially in research and development of treatments and vaccine", Thuan stressed.
