US Hands Over Emergency Medical Supplies to Bangladesh

The United States (US) today formally donated emergency COVID-19 medical supplies to Bangladesh to help save lives, stop the spread of the virus and meet the health needs of the country’s people.

The US delivery, made through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is worth nearly three million US dollars, a US embassy press release said.  

“Today’s handover of COVID-19 supplies and medicines is one of the many examples of our successful and unique partnership (between the US and Bangladesh) as we find our way through the crisis together,” said Ambassador Earl Miller at the handing over ceremony, reports BSS.

Secretary Health Services Division Lokman Hossain Miah was also present at the handover ceremony.

Today’s supplies include personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare professionals and other frontline workers, laboratory equipment to expand COVID-19 testing, oxygen cylinders, and medicines to ensure timely critical care interventions for patients.

The Government of Bangladesh will distribute these supplies and medicines to the health facilities in the border regions where the need is greatest amid the current surge of COVID-19 cases in the country.

These deliveries build on the United States’ ongoing efforts to mitigate the challenges posed by the pandemic in Bangladesh, said the US embassy here.

The US has worked closely with Bangladesh since the beginning of the pandemic to strengthen the government’s response to prevent and respond to COVID-19, contributing more than $84 million to date in development and humanitarian assistance from USAID since March 2020, the US Department of Defense, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Department of State, said the release.

The US has also provided 100 state-of-the-art ventilators and gas analyzers to help Bangladesh to produce its own ventilators, as well as tens of thousands of pieces of locally produced PPE including KN95 surgical masks, face shields, HAZMAT suits, full-body gowns, medical-grade hand sanitizer, surgical gloves, and medical goggles to treatment facilities, law enforcement authorities, first responders, and customs inspectors.

The US support also includes mentoring and training for thousands of doctors and other frontline workers to improve the care given to COVID-19 patients across Bangladesh.

This support builds on the more than one billion US dollars in health assistance the US has provided to Bangladesh over the past 20 years and underscores the long-term commitment of the USA to ensuring access to quality, life-saving health services for the people of Bangladesh.