This batch was the first support within the framework of the technical cooperation project, entitled “The Project for Enhancing Hue Central Hospital Capabilities in Responding to SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19).” The project will deliver all together six batches of 11 different types of equipment, with the total value of 200 million yen (roughly 39.3 billion VND).
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The first batch of medical supplies handed over to Hue Central Hospital on December 27 |
The new SARS-CoV-2 virus infection continues spreading throughout Vietnam, and the daily number of new infections has exceeded 15,000, well on top of the peak number recorded during the fourth wave of infection in September 2021.
In Thua Thien Hue and the neighboring provinces, the number of new infections per day is on the rise. There is concern that the number of infected people will increase rapidly due to the heavier domestic traffic prior to the lunar New Year holiday which falls on the end of January and the beginning of February 2022.
Since the 1990s, JICA has been working to strengthen the functions of central hospitals in the North, Central, and South of Vietnam and to improve the capabilities of medical staff through various training activities conducted by these hospitals.
From 2005 to 2010, JICA provided grant aid to build a new ward and provided medical equipment for Hue Central Hospital. Through technical cooperation, JICA has helped to strengthen the capacity of more than 1,000 medical professionals of the hospital and its affiliated provincial hospitals.
By strengthening Hue Central Hospital, which plays a major role as the leading hospital in the Central region, it is hoped that the Central region as a whole will improve its ability to respond to infectious diseases, including the novel coronavirus infection.
On December 28, 2021, JICA also provided 168,000 kits of rapid antigen test (Trueline, Medicon) to the Ministry of Health with a price tag of 50 million yen (about 9.8 billion VND), at the request of the ministry.
JICA will continue to work with the Government of Japan to support Vietnam with measures against infectious diseases, including the new coronavirus.
Translated by Song Anh