The US government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), on September 30 donated 100 brand-new ventilators and committed US$9.5 million to Vietnam to support the latter's ongoing response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ventilators, produced in the US, reflect leading-edge technology. They are compact, maneuverable which are expected to provide Vietnam with flexibility in treating patients affected by the virus. 

“The world is impressed by Vietnam’s strategy and proactive measures in tackling Covid-19,” said Ambassador Daniel J. Kritenbrink at the handover ceremony, “but this serious disease remains a threat in Vietnam and the world. Building on the strong relationship between our countries over the last 25 years, the US government is pleased to support our friends in Vietnam with this donation of ventilators to fight the coronavirus.”

The US government, through the USAID, delivers a donation of 100 respiratory ventilators to Vietnam to assist with its national response to Covid-19. Photo: US embassy

The US government has also committed US$9.5 million through USAID to help Vietnam respond to the pandemic, strengthen clinical care, disseminate health messages, build laboratory capacity, improve disease surveillance and support the recovery of the private sector by mitigating the impact of the pandemic on the Vietnamese economy.

The donation delivers on US President Donald Trump’s offer of these critically needed supplies and supports Vietnam’s urgent response to the pandemic.

Over the past 20 years, the US has invested more than US$706 million in health assistance and more than US$1.8 billion in total assistance to Vietnam.

For his part, Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long assessed this as an important event marking the Vietnam-US cooperation in the field of health as well as the Covid-19 pandemic combat.

On September 29, the Chinese government donated a shipment of 300,000 medical masks and 20,000 protective masks to Vietnam to help the country prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the community.

A document to this effect was signed in Hanoi on September 29 between Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo and Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Mr. Long thanked the Chinese government for its aid and hoped both sides will increase the sharing of experience in combating Covid-19, as well as healthcare cooperation to benefit their peoples.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Xiong noted China has made progress in Covid-19 prevention and control, and it is ready to share experience in the field with other countries.

After Covid-19 vaccines are successfully produced in China, the Chinese government will prioritize supplying the products to developing countries and ASEAN member nations, said Xiong.