Vietnam helps Laos in fight against Covid-19

The Vietnam government has granted US$10,000 to assist Laos’ efforts to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19.

The aid was handed over during a ceremony held at Hanoi on April 15 that was attended by officials of the Lao embassy and the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam. 

The hand-over ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam. –photo by Ministry of Planning and Investment in Laos

At the ceremony, the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam handed over US$10,000 to the Lao Ambassador, Mr Sengphet Houngbounyuang, for providing to the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment for Covid-19 prevention and control.

Mr Sengphet thanked the Vietnam government for the contribution to assist Laos' efforts to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

In addition, the Vietnam government also delivered medical supplies worth more than 2 billion kip (more than US$300,000) to back Laos’ efforts to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19. 

The supplies included 330,000 face masks, 1,000 sets of protective clothing and other essential medical equipment.

So far, several countries have provided medical supplies to the ministry to help Laos prevent the spread of the virus.

The Japan government recently provided personal protective equipment (PPE) to the ministry for use by medical staff. The donation included 4,680 isolation gowns, 6,100 gloves, 6,000 N95 masks, 13,200 surgical masks, 27 goggles and 240 bottles of alcohol hand-rub.

The US government provided PPE for use in responding to the Coronavirus, which was donated through the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The supplies included 440 protective goggles, 1,500 surgical gowns, 220 face shields, biohazard disposal bags, aprons, N95 face masks, safety boxes, gloves and hand sanitisers.

The Thai government provided medical supplies to the Lao Ministry of Health, including 2,040 bottles of gel hand-rub and 50,000 medical gloves.

The Chinese government delivered 2,000 virus detection kits to assist Laos’ efforts to prevent and control infections, according to the Chinese Embassy in Vientiane. 

The Jack Ma Foundation donated 5,000 sets of protective clothing and N95 face masks, 400,000 standard face masks and 20,000 virus detection sets.

The UNICEF has given PPE kits to the Ministry of Health to support the country’s response and preparedness for Covid-19. The supplies, including surgical masks, gowns, aprons, caps, gloves, face-shields and coveralls, will be distributed to referral hospitals for use by key frontline staff working for the Covid-19 response.

By Viengdavanh Banphahaksa
(Latest Update April 17, 2020) [02:41 PM]