On September 26, 2022, the United States Mission to Vietnam, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced liquid oxygen systems for 10 additional Vietnamese hospitals. In total, USAID is providing 23 hospitals with liquid oxygen systems.

USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Aler Grubbs made the announcement Monday afternoon alongside officials from the Ministry of Health and numerous provincial departments of health, who were gathered to celebrate the completion of USAID’s installation of liquid oxygen systems in 13 hospitals across five provinces.

USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Aler Grubbs and Ministry of Health's representative at the ceremony to receive 10 Liquid Oxygen Systems. (Photo: US Embassy in Hanoi)

Increasing patient access to oxygen strengthens the nation’s health care system and saves lives. The completed liquid oxygen systems help 13 hospitals to support the care of patients with severe cases of COVID-19, as well as patients suffering other respiratory ailments, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Over the next year, USAID will install new liquid oxygen systems in 10 hospitals located in some of the poorest and most remote areas of Vietnam across six additional provinces. This support further strengthens the long-standing health cooperation between the United States and Vietnam, as the two countries approach 10 years of Comprehensive Partnership.

In Vietnam, on-site oxygen storage at smaller and provincial hospitals is rare, necessitating dependence on regular oxygen deliveries. However, oxygen can run out in times of surge demand, as happened during waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals have an urgent need for a reliable supply of oxygen.

Liquid Oxygen System.

USAID is also providing related staff training, equipment, and supplies to administer the oxygen, such as high-flow nasal tubing and patient monitors, which allow hospital staff to efficiently track patients’ vital signs and quickly respond to changes in patient conditions. USAID’s installation of the 23 liquid oxygen systems and related support, valued at $7.5 million, helps Vietnam’s hospitals to provide thousands of additional patients with a reliable supply of medical oxygen.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States and Vietnam have joined hands to tackle this big public health challenge. U.S. contributions, including technical support, life-saving medical equipment, and more than 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, have helped Vietnam’s own remarkable response to this global challenge.