UN staff shakes off Covid-19 in Vietnam

The anonymous staff member had left Vietnam to resume work Tuesday.

Suffering severe Covid-19 symptoms, the patient had been sent to Vietnam by private U.N. aircraft under the medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) mechanism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

Vietnam admitted the patient on U.N. request.

This is the first time Vietnam has received and treated a patient who works for the U.N. under the MEDEVAC scheme, marking progress in the comprehensive cooperation between the nation and the U.N.

U.N. leaders and representatives expressed their appreciation for Vietnam's goodwill and international solidarity, praising the professional capacity and growing contribution of the Vietnamese health sector, according to the ministry statement.

Atul Khare, under-secretary-general for Operational Support, said what Vietnam has done was of great significance, contributing to the fulfillment of U.N. tasks in the region, expressing his wish to continue receiving future support from the country.

He also thanked Vietnam for its continued participation in the level-two field hospital in South Sudan and for inoculating its on duty officers and soldiers with the Covid-19 vaccine prior to deployment in April.

Via the global vaccine access mechanism Covax, the U.N. has supplied almost 2.5 million free Covid-19 vaccine doses of a total 38.9 million pledged to the nation.