The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on Feb.18 provided lifesaving equipment to the Department of Health of southern Tay Ninh province.

At the hand-over ceremony.

The equipment was delivered by USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock, who joined Vice Director of the Tay Ninh Department of Health Dr. Nguyen Van Cuong at Trang Bang District Health Center to highlight the diligent efforts of Tay Ninh and the province’s partnership with USAID to improve clinical care for Covid-19 patients.

“I am humbled to share this moment with representatives from Tay Ninh,” said Mission Director Yastishock. “I am impressed with your dedication, commitment to your communities, and your efforts to build resilience in the healthcare system that will bring short term and long term benefits.”

The donated equipment, which consists of 10 patient monitors, 40 infusion pumps, 200 fingertip pulse oximeters, and 20,000 masks together valued at US$ 250,000, will enhance the health center’s Covid-19 case management.

Patient monitors allow hospital staff to efficiently track patient vital signs and quickly respond to changes in patient conditions. Infusion pumps are programmed to deliver medication, nutrition, and fluids to patients. Fingertip pulse oximeters are noninvasive devices that estimate the amount of oxygen in a patient’s blood.

Liquid oxygen tanks and piping systems at provincial health centers.

Over the coming months, USAID is also installing liquid oxygen tanks and piping systems at Trang Bang District Health Center, Tan Bien District Health Center, and the Tay Ninh Provincial General Hospital. Combined, these systems will be able to support the delivery of medical oxygen to nearly 200 patients daily.

In addition, USAID is supporting the training of frontline health care workers on Covid-19 clinical care, infection prevention and control, and community-based care. Frontline health care workers will also have access to training and support to manage mental health challenges associated with long-term support of the country’s Covid-19 response. In total, USAID is investing US$ 5.5 million in Covid-related training and equipment in Binh Duong, Dong Nai, HCM City, Long An, Tay Ninh, and other hotspots.

The Vietnam - US comprehensive partnership has been developing more intensively and practically. Bilateral trade hit a record of 111 billion USD in 2021, turning Vietnam into one of the 10 largest trade partners of the U.S.

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the people of the United States and the U.S. Government have joined hands with the people and Government of Vietnam to tackle one of the greatest public health challenges of our time.

U.S. contributions including technical support, life-saving medical equipment, and more than 24 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have enhanced Vietnam’s own remarkable response to this global challenge.

The number of Covid-19 cases continued to rise in the past 24 hours to 4 pm Feb. 18 to a record 42,439, up 6,237 cases from the previous day, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Health.

The national tally reached 2,685,463.

190,215,794 million doses of vaccines have been administered nationwide since the start of the pandemic.

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