“We commend the Government of Viet Nam for their quick and effective emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said ADB Country Director for Viet Nam Andrew Jeffries. “Under strong leadership of the Government and with public self-consciousness, Viet Nam is among few countries that have successfully contained the impact from the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The grant is funded by two ADB Technical Assistance Special Funds. The first provided personal protective equipment valued at US$500,000 to the National Lung Hospital under the Ministry of Health. The second helped upgrade equipment valued at US$100,000 for the Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC) under General Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health.

The personal protective equipment will help protect health workers from coronavirus transmission, which is essential in the prolonged fight against Covid-19. The upgraded equipment in the PHEOC will significantly improve the efficiency of the Ministry of Health’s coordinated activities in the public health emergency outbreaks.

In April 2020, ADB approved a US$20 billion expanded assistance package to support its developing members’ Covid-19 response. In Viet Nam, ADB has been working with other development partners to support the government’s ongoing efforts in fighting the Covid-19. ADB’s assistance aims to provide additional resources to strengthen Viet Nam’s capacity for outbreak response.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members-49 from the region.

As of Thursday, Viet Nam confirmed 1,385 Covid-19 cases, including 1,225 recoveries and 35 fatalities./.