UNICEF hands over 380 oxygen concentrators to the Government of Ethiopia
The equipment will not only support the treatment of patients suffering
from severe forms of COVID-19, but in the long-term, it will be
repurposed for the treatment of pneumonia in children
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, September 19, 2020/ -- UNICEF handed 380 oxygen concentrators to the Ministry of Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in support to its response
to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia. The oxygen concentrators and their accessories were procured with funding from the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID) and the United Kingdom’s Foreign,
Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). Some 100 of the
concentrators will be allocated to the recently inaugurated field
hospital in Addis Ababa under St. Peter’s Hospital.
“I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the US and the UK
governments for their continued commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s
response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Minister of Health Dr. Lia
Tadesse. “We are delighted that these concentrators have come at a time
when Ethiopia needs them most. With the increasing number of COVID
patients in the country, these concentrators as well as previously
donated ventilators will help save lives of many that would have
otherwise been lost due to COVID-19.”
“Oxygen concentrators are essential in treating patients with a moderate to severe form of COVID-19,” said UNICEF Deputy Representative in
Ethiopia Michele Servadei. “They have come at a time when we are seeing a spike in the number of COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen treatment. We have no doubt that the oxygen concentrators will save precious lives,
and for this, we are immensely grateful to USAID and the FCDO for their
generosity.”
Oxygen concentrators are medical equipment that filter the surrounding
air and compress it to the required density to deliver purified medical
oxygen to patients needing respiratory support. The equipment will not
only support the treatment of patients suffering from severe forms of
COVID-19, but in the long-term, it will be repurposed for the treatment
of pneumonia in children, one of the leading causes of child deaths in
Ethiopia.
“Today’s event is a great example of the power of partnerships, which
has made possible the procurement of this essential oxygen equipment.
Only together will we – as partners, as countries, and together as a
strong, unified global community – prevail over the coronavirus
pandemic,” said USAID Mission Director Sean Jones.
“The British Government has a valued partnership with the Government of
Ethiopia to address the challenges of COVID-19. We look forward to
continued collaboration and partnership to address this global challenge and strengthen essential health care provision,” said FCDO Development
Director in Ethiopia Dr.Christian Rogg.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, UNICEF in Ethiopia has allocated 1,000
pulse oximeters (used to determine how much oxygen one has in the blood) to COVID-19 treatment centers around the country and 6,000 pulse
oximeters for non-COVID related treatment. In addition, UNICEF has
provided personal protective equipment for over 200,000 health workers
in Ethiopia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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