At the hand-over ceremony. Photo: UNICEF Vietnam

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and UNICEF marked their recent provision of $1 million in life-saving equipment and vaccine administration supplies to Viet Nam to assist with its Covid-19 response, at a ceremony in Hanoi on March 25.

The equipment and supplies, funded by USAID and delivered through UNICEF between November 2021 and February 2022, include 2.5 million syringes, 125,000 N95 face masks and 250 portable patient monitors.

The donation has come at a timely moment as Vietnam responds to the current Omicron-fueled wave, according to a press release by UNICEF Vietnam.

USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock, UNICEF Representative to Vietnam Rana Flowers, and Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan attended the ceremony.

"The United States and Vietnam have built on decades of collaboration and friendship, drawing on each other’s strengths and capacities, to jointly identify and address the highest priorities when responding to Covid-19," said USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock.

"USAID’s steadfast commitment to supporting Vietnam’s Covid-19 response, including through partners such as UNICEF, is demonstrated in this ceremony today marking our recent donation of $1 million in life-saving equipment and supplies."

“Today is about reaffirming that while enormous strides have been made, we are not yet at the end of the pandemic — and UNICEF continues to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health of Vietnam and our key partners — to not just focus on the roll out of safe vaccines but to support in every way we can the medical equipment and medicines that are critical to saving lives from Covid-19,” said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative.

Ms Rana Flower, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam stands in front of the first shipment of 811,200 doses of Covid-19 Vaccine supported by COVAX on April 1, 2021 at the Noi Bai International Airport. Photo: UNICEF Vietnam

“USAID has been a long time partner, including providing support whenever emergency or disaster strikes. UNICEF acknowledges the foresight, commitment, and compassion of all countries and donors who have supported Vietnam — we will get through this by working together.”

Throughout the Covid-19 global pandemic, USAID and UNICEF have worked in partnership with the Ministry of Health to bolster Vietnam’s risk communication and community engagement, and to improve infection prevention, control and response efforts.

UNICEF, as the primary COVAX partner in-country, has worked to bring in US Government-supported Covid vaccines — totaling more than 33 million to-date./.

By March 24, Vietnam had injected 204,566,009 doses of Covid-19 vaccines. Photo: IRNA/VNA

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