COVID-19: US government donates 200 ventilators to Nigeria

The United States Government has donated 200 life-saving ventilators to Nigeria for COVID-19 response.

Speaking while handing over the equipment to the federal government on Tuesday in Abuja, United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, said the ventilators were compact deployable and would provide Nigeria with flexibility in treating COVID-19 patients.

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She said the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was also funding a support package that includes accompanying equipment, medical supplies, technical assistance and service plans.

“The donation, and the many other health and humanitarian assistance programs offered from the American people over the years, is just one component of the strong cooperation between our two governments.

“I laud Nigeria’s efforts in taking early action to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

“I hope to see Nigeria continue this trajectory, as an example for other African nations to follow,” she said.

Leonard said the United States government had also provided Nigeria more than $54 million in COVID-19 assistance and would continue to support the country’s prevention and response efforts both now and in the future.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said ventilators were a critical component of the response strategy to save the lives of persons who have been severely impacted by COVID-19.

He said the 200 ventilators would be of great benefit to the people of Nigeria, adding that the government of Nigeria was grateful to President Donald Trump and the United States government for the generous consideration and friendly gesture.

He said: “We particularly appreciate that this gift comes against the backdrop that the United States is also fighting its own fierce battle against the COVID-19 plague.

“We wish them the very best in this challenge.”

The president also urged the United States government to lend its full weight to global efforts to find efficacious therapeutics and vaccines to neutralize the threat of COVID-19 to the global community, and to guarantee fair allocation to all countries and people.

“The speed and ease with which COVID-19 has spread across the globe clearly shows that it is a threat to mankind.

“Without the full collaboration of all nations, the threat of COVID-19 to any one part of the world is a threat to all,” he added.

Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who was represented by Nwandu Mba, said adequate ventilators gives a fighting chance to more persons to survive COVID-19.

“Our healthcare system have been stretched to a limit and life- saving equipment are needed to ensure reduction in morbidity and mortality from the disease,” he said.

Dr Ihekweazu said the donated ventilators would not only help support Nigeria’s response for COVID-19 but also help strengthen the health system for critical care in the intensive care units.