The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) presented its first batch of an aid package for Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on June 3, with the donation containing 2,000 handbooks detailing the process of conducting infection control practice.

Cover of the handbook detailing the process of conducting infection control practice 

According to the JICA, to support Vietnam cope with the COVID-19 epidemic, whilst being based on the request of assistance from partner agencies, JICA has decided to continue deploying aid packages.

The value of the donation is worth approximately JPY60 million, equivalent to roughly VND12 billion, for Cho Ray Hospital, in addition to a further JPY20 million, equivalent to VND4 billion, for various disease control centres located in regions such as Nam Dinh, Ha Giang, Bac Giang, Vinh Phuc, Kien Giang, and Tra Vinh.

The handbook was fully prepared by the Department of Infection Control at Cho Ray Hospital, receiving technical support from JICA experts in the process.

The ultimate aim of the literature is to enhance the infection control capacity of the Cho Ray Vietnam-Japan Friendship Hospital which is anticipated to get underway in the near future, along with 21 provincial hospitals based throughout the southern region.

Indeed, the aid package is part of the JICA-funded project for the Improvement of Hospital Management Competency for Cho Ray Hospital.

August last year saw the agency conduct training courses relating to the use of protective equipment by medical staff and nurses as a way of strengthening infection control measures for the medical centre.

Since the transfer of the first novel coronavirus case to Cho Ray Hospital back in January, various JICA experts have been providing training courses regarding infection control at hospitals for medical staff.

Moreover, JICA has also been striving to implement non-refundable aid projects since 2006 in order to assist the nation in dealing with dangerous infectious diseases.

JICA experts have recently worked with both the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City to improve their testing capacity and capabilities by the provincial disease control centres, especially the testing capacity for the COVID-19 in the nation.