The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on June 12 handed over medical equipment for oxygen therapy worth over 7 million USD to Cambodia’s Ministry of Health.

According a press release by UN organisation, the devices include oxygen concentrators, patient monitors, pulse oximeters, resuscitators, and other oxygen therapy accessories that will be distributed to 131 health facilities, including national, provincial and district hospitals and health centres across Cambodia in the coming weeks.

The donation is part of UNICEF’s ongoing effort to strengthen Cambodia’s health system for equitable primary health care following the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During COVID-19, we saw that global access to oxygen was unequal, which impacted most low- and middle-income countries,” said Dr. Will Parks, UNICEF Representative in Cambodia at the handover. “We are proud to play a part globally in addressing this equity gap, while also enhancing Cambodia’s capacity to lifesaving measures for children and their families.”

“Our partnership with UNICEF helps enhance our healthcare infrastructure and boost human resource development. Today’s contribution of oxygen medical supplies is a step towards upgrading our medical equipment and monitoring system, which can reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates,” said Dr. Youk Sambath, Secretary of State at the Cambodian Ministry of Health.

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, UNICEF has provided the Southeast nation with more than 44 million USD in supplies, medical and cold chain equipment, COVID-19 vaccines, and medicines thanks to the support of partners such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Governments of Japan, Australia, and Czechia./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency