KATHMANDU, Nov 13: The United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided 100 state-of-the-art ventilators to Nepal to assist its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. 

At an event held on Friday, US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry handed over the ventilators to Minister for Health and Population, Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal.

“The United States remains committed to its partnership with Nepal through the best and worst of times. With these ventilators, we want to help Nepali families be prepared to help their loved ones that are the most affected by COVID-19,” the ambassador said during the event.

In addition to the ventilators, USAID activities have also supported 113 municipal contact tracing and case investigation teams, provided COVID-19 telephone counseling to almost two million families, conducted remote health counseling with more than 500,000 families during the lockdowns, identified more than 60,000 food insecure families and referred them to food aid programs, and reached more than 14 million people with mass media messages about COVID-19, according to a press release issued by the US Embassy in Kathmandu.

“USAID is also funding a tailored package of ventilator support that includes accompanying equipment, service plans, and technical assistance. This donation builds on the $28.3 million (3.4 billion NPR) to active projects that USAID has committed to Nepal in response to the pandemic. The United States is committed to providing an All-of-America approach for life-saving support by coordinating with the Government of Nepal,” reads the press release.

 
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