At the event. Photo by UNFPA.
These essential medical equipment and supplies were delivered to Vietnam’s Ministry of Health in the handover ceremony held on Thursday morning attended by Ms. Phan Le Thu Hang, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Finance of the Ministry of Health and Ms. Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam.
Since the first positive case was reported, the government of Vietnam has taken proactive actions to contain COVID-19. As of January 7, 2021, there are 1,509 confirmed cases with 35 deaths.
“Today, we are delivering medical equipment and supplies to complement the efforts of the Government in containing COVID-19 to make sure essential SRH services are provided in a continuous way. COVID-19 is not yet a matter of the past even in a successful country like Vietnam in containing it. Now is the time to prepare health facilities and workers to protect pregnant women,” said Ms. Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam.
Dr Phan Le Thu Hang, Deputy Director of the Planning and Finance Department highly appreciated UNFPA's support and affirmed that “Protecting all people’s health during the COVID-19 epidemic is the top priority of the Government, especially for pregnant women who reside in ethnic minority and disasters affected regions. To protect health workers is vital to effectively combat the COVID-19”.
“Pregnancy and childbirth do not stop in the pandemic situation. Let’s put the brakes on COVID-19 and its negative impact and safeguard the health and the right of women and girls - now”, added Ms. Kitahara at the handover ceremony.
