June 29, 2023 | 20:13 (GMT+7)
New Zealand and UNICEF provide medical equipment to Vietnam
PANO - The New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) handed over medical equipment, worth NZD 1 million, to Vietnam to assist the country’s diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
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New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Tredene Dobson (center) hands over the equipment to Vietnam. |
The handover ceremony was held on June 29 at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases.
The medical equipment, including hematology analyzer, coagulation analyzer, immunoassay analyzer system, biochemistry analyzer and automated DNA/RNA extraction machine, were supported by New Zealand’s International Development Cooperation program and delivered through UNICEF. The donation aimed to support Vietnam to strengthen the capacity of the health system to effectively diagnose and treat COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Speaking at the ceremony, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Tredene Dobson hoped that the new medical equipment would offer essential support for the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, which has been at the forefront in the pandemic fight, to effectively respond to future outbreaks and provide better care for and ensure the well-being of the Vietnamese people.
Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, said that the COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to every health system across the world. She emphasized the need for stronger primary health care services and preventative services to better protect the most vulnerable people. The pandemic also showed the importance of building response plan to health crises, ensuring a strong health system together with skills and equipment needed to enhance the effectiveness of treatment.
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An overview of the hand-over ceremony |
Ms. Rana Flowers added that UNICEF is honored to officially collaborate with the Government of New Zealand, in strengthening the capacity of Vietnam’s health system to swiftly respond to diseases and to effectively address future outbreaks.
The medical equipment was part of an NZD 2 million aid package from New Zealand to support Vietnam’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This package, announced by the New Zealand Embassy in May, 2022, included NZD 1 million for medical equipment and NZD 1 million to support community-level economic recovery through CARE International and Oxfam in Vietnam.
Translated by Tran Hoai