China and UNDP donate 10 ventilators to Maldives

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in collaboration with the Chinese government, has donated emergency lifesaving health supplies to Maldives, including 10 ventilators.

The donation was presented to Maldivian Health Minister Ahmed Naseem by the Chinese Ambassador to Maldives Wang Lixin on Tuesday.

It included 16 automated defibrillators, 10 neonatal ventilators, and 4,000 gloves – which will be supplied to hospitals across Maldives.

According to the Health Ministry, the ventilators will go to hospitals in 10 atolls; HA. Atoll, Sh. Atoll, N. Atoll, B. Atoll, Lh. Atoll, M. Atoll, Dh. Atoll, Th. Atoll, Th. Atoll, GA. Atoll, and Fuvahmulah City.

The donation was made through the project ‘China-UNDP Triangular Cooperation Response to COVID-19 in the Asia and Pacific Region’, which aims to strengthen Covid preparedness, response and recovery capacities in Maldives, Bangladesh, Laos and Pakistan.

In Maldives, the project aims to support government officials, medical personnel and the public to respond to the pandemic through technology transfer and provision of PPE and emergency life-saving products and on-site training for healthcare professionals on proper and safe use of equipment.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Naseem thanked China and the UNDP for their assistance to strengthen the Maldives health system.

“As a country that needs to import pharmaceuticals and other medical equipment, such assistance is always appreciated. This will strengthen the partnership with China and the UNDP,” he said.

Wang reiterated China’s commitment to strengthening Maldives’ health system.

“China wants our two countries to work together to develop the health system, and ensure the Maldivian people benefit from the health system. China is also ready to work with the UNDP to implement global initiatives and promote socioeconomic development in Maldives,” she said.