The United States (US) on Wednesday donated Intensive Care Unit (ICU) equipment worth USD 165,000 to the Maldivian Ministry of Health and the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) to support the country's COVID-19 response.
The donation, which includes 40 oxygen concentrators and associated supplies, was funded by the US Department of Defense. They were presented to the Maldivian government by US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Alaina B. Teplitz.
According to the US Embassy, the equipment can be used with the 60 portable critical care ventilators donated by America to Maldives earlier in September, as well as serve as a durable resource for non-COVID related respiratory diseases post-pandemic.
“Once more, the United States is finding ways to support Maldivian health care workers in their fight against COVID-19 to safeguard the health of Maldivians,” said Ambassador Teplitz.
“This donation builds on a broader U.S. effort to strengthen the Maldivian health system.”
In addition to the ICU equipment and 60 ventilators, the US has extended assistance to the Maldivian COVID-19 response efforts on various occasions, including donations of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), a grant of USD 750,000 for support education and communities amid the pandemic, as well as USD 2 million as economic support.
Maldives currently records a total of 13,274 virus cases of which 629 are active cases, in addition to 12,591 recoveries and 47 deaths.
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