The equipment handover ceremony in Hanoi on January 14 (Photo: VNA)The supplies include gloves, face masks,anti-droplet face shields, thermometers, and hand sanitizer worth 30,000 USD.
They will be distributed to social protectioncenters and community caregivers in high-risk cities and provinces, namelyHanoi, Hai Duong, Da Nang and Quang Nam.
At the handover ceremony, UNFPA Representativein Vietnam Naomi Kitahara said the COVID-19 pandemic is amplifying thevulnerability of the elderly, and that the fatality rate for older people ishigher, and for those above the age of 80, it is five times higher than theglobal average.
Therefore, elderly people must be a priority indealing with COVID-19 to ensure no one is left behind in humanitarian responseas well as in development efforts, she added.
Appreciating the UNFPA support for the elderlyin Vietnam, Deputy Director of the Social Protection Department Pham Thi Hai Hasaid ensuring people’s health, especially providing essential health care supportand services for the elderly is one of the top priorities of the VietnameseGovernment.
The protection of health for medical workers andcaregivers of older people also requires due attention, so they also needsufficient personal protective gear.
According to the UNFPA, the COVID-19 pandemichas seriously affected the elderly since they and those with underlying healthconditions are more susceptible to virus infection and have higher fatality rates.
Older persons living in long-term carefacilities, such as nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, must be fullyprotected from infection and adverse outcomes of COVID-19. Those living alonemay face barriers to obtaining accurate information, food, medication, andother essential supplies during quarantine period.
Despite fast population aging and the number ofpeople aged 65 and above making up 7.7 percent of the population, Vietnam isstill one of the few countries effectively responding to the pandemic. Tosustain this achievement, it should prepare all conditions necessary forensuring social security and nursing services for the elderly, especially theones living alone, at care centres, and with disabilities, the UNFPA said./.
VNA
