US gifts 100 ventilators to Vietnam

By Phan Anh September 30, 2020 | 12:30 am PT

A ventilator gifted by the U.S. is on display at a handover ceremony in Hanoi, September 30, 2020. Photo by USAID/Nguyen Thac Phuong.

The U.S. donated 100 ventilators worth over $1.7 million to Vietnam for its Covid-19 fight at a ceremony in Hanoi on Wednesday.

It has also pledged grants of $9.5 million for combating the pandemic, improving epidemiological monitoring, clinical care and labs’ capabilities and helping the private sector recover.

The ventilators were received by the National Lung Hospital, which will distribute them.

The U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, Daniel Kritenbrink, said at the ceremony: "The world is impressed by Vietnam’s strategy and proactive measures in tackling Covid-19, but this serious disease remains a threat in Vietnam and the world," according to a statement from the U.S. Consulate in HCMC.

The U.S. has provided assistance to various countries, international agencies and non-governmental organizations to help deal with the pandemic.

But it has been the worst hit country with over 7.4 million cases and 210,785 deaths.

Vietnam has had 1,094 cases of Covid-19 so far and 35 deaths.

But there has been no local transmission in nearly a month.