United States provides more equipment for Covid response

The United States on Tuesday handed over personal protective equipment and hygiene supplies worth more than 1.8 billion kip (US$203,000), as part of the United States’ ongoing Covid-19 support to Laos.
The equipment and supplies were the first of two deliveries of supplies via the US Department of Defense’s Indo-Pacific Command to outfit 25 quarantine centres across Laos.
The deliveries offer much-needed resupply for healthcare workers, facilities’ maintenance workers, and visitors at each quarantine centre, supporting World Food Programme efforts there.
The supplies were presented by the US Ambassador to Laos, Dr Peter M. Haymond, to Minister of Health Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaisith, according to a press release from the US Embassy in Vientiane. “I commend the government of Laos’ leadership and efforts to keep the Covid-19 outbreak under control,” Ambassador Haymond said. 
“I am proud to hand over these supplies to support healthcare workers, facilities’ maintenance workers, and visitors at quarantine centres, and we will continue to support Laos in controlling Covid-19.”
The donation reflects the United States’ sustained efforts to support Laos as it confronts the challenges of Covid-19, and the enduring commitment of the US Department of Defense to build long-term capacity-building partnership here in public health. 
In the past year alone, the Department of Defense has worked with the Ministry of Health and the Military Medical Department, Ministry of National Defense to help address the health needs of the Lao people by contributing more than US$2.4 million in areas such as health facilities, field ambulances, laboratory equipment and supplies, Covid-19 test kits, and personal protective equipment. This handover is part of over US$8 million in direct Covid-related assistance that the US government has provided to Laos since the beginning of the pandemic. 
Besides providing personal protective equipment, the United States Department of Defense also renovated a medical facility in Saravan province. This year, the United States and Laos celebrate the 5th anniversary of the US-Lao Comprehensive Partnership.
This work is one part of the Partnership, as the United States supports Laos in working to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal number 3 for good health and well-being. The renovation of Khongsedon Hospital will improve medical access for the people of Kongsedon district and Saravan province.
The hospital was originally built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 2003 and has been providing health assistance to the people of Saravan since that time.
These projects are just one part of broader work by the United States across Laos in the areas of health, education, nutrition, UXO removal, law enforcement, and many others.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update May 28, 2021)