The U.S. Government has airlifted emergency medical supplies to the Maldives to help stop the spread of COVID-19, and continue to meet the urgent health needs across the country.
In a press release, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) stated the emergency assistance delivery to the Maldives includes 600 pulse oximetres and 292,000 vital pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to support frontline healthcare workers and people most affected by the current outbreak.
Prior to the shipment, USAID has provided USD 9.1 million to assist the COVID-19 response and recovery in the Maldives, including a donation of 60 ventilators to care for critically ill patients, which has provided life-saving treatments, strengthened clinical care, and mobilised critical supplies to bolster the response and help the country recover from the outbreak.
USAID stated it is coordinating additional shipments for South Asia in the coming weeks and is also working closely with the private sector to help address the immediate health needs in the region. USAID also stated it will leverage its experience with a range of private sector partners, from manufacturers to investors, to meet the critical needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.