Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - The US Government hasprovided about 18.3 million USD in emergency medical and humanitarianassistance for ASEAN member countries, including Vietnam, since the COVID-19outbreak, said the US Embassy in Vietnam on April 1.
This funding aims to support the preparation of large-scale laboratories forSARS-CoV-2 testing; infection prevention and control; risk communication; the implementationof emergency public health plans for entry points at the border; and the launchof case detection and event-based surveillance for influenza-like diseases. Italso help train quick response teams and update training materials for healthworkers.
For Vietnam, nearly 3 million USD in medical assistance will help theGovernment prepare a laboratory system, launch case detection and event-based surveillance,assist technical experts in response and preparation, boost risk communication;and prevent and control infection, among others.
Over the past 20 years, the US has provided more than 706 million USD for the healthsector and over 1.8 billion USD of total assistance for other areas in Vietnam.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has collaborated with the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention (CDC) in providing training for 15 hospitals andsupporting 63 provinces and cities across Vietnam in supervising, reporting andcollecting SARS-CoV-2 testing samples. They have also assisted Vietnam indeveloping national guidelines for coronavirus infection prevention and control.
In the region, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the US isactively supporting research in key ASEAN countries to combat the pandemic,including treatment methods, vaccines and medical countermeasures. The NIH hasworked with ASEAN partners on malaria treatment and prevention, studies on casesof coronavirus transmission from bats and others on public health benefits.
Through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the CDC,the US has launched regional programmes to enhance the ASEAN nations’ capacityin preparing for disease outbreaks and building diagnosis capacity in the laboratory./.
VNA
