HCMC - The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) handed over 1,652 Covid-19 test kits to the Ministry of Health on May 31 to support urgent testing in outbreak hotspots.

The real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test kits were produced locally in compliance with technical procedures of the World Health Organization, with funding from the Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB) and the Ghen CoVy production team.

Addressing the handover ceremony, Phan Le Thu Hang, deputy director of the Health Ministry’s Department of Planning and Finance, said, “Since 1978, the UNDP has always supported Vietnam in many ways. Especially in the context of the current outbreak, the provision of test kits is very valuable. We really appreciate this support and these test kits will be delivered to the locations where they are most needed."

UNDP resident representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen spoke highly of the Vietnamese Government’s extraordinary job in managing the Covid-19 outbreaks in different areas.

“I am moved to see the number of doctors and nurses across the country being deployed to Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces. With the funding from JSB of Japan and the Ghen CoVy production team, the UNDP is providing these test kits to support the urgent testing efforts in these epicenters,” she said.

Ghen CoVy is a health communication campaign on handling Covid-19, whose music video had seen 90 million views.

The UNDP has also worked with the Health Ministry and the Ghen CoVy production team to make the song and dance introduction available in ethnic minority and sign languages to reach a maximum number of people with prevention messages in their mother tongues.

The UNDP has been working closely with relevant ministries and UN organizations to support the country to respond to Covid-19, as part of its mission to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and build resilience to crises and shocks.

A total of 19 robots have been deployed to 10 hospitals in six provinces and cities. The robots are being used to protect frontline doctors and nurses as they provide treatment for Covid-19 patients in intensive care units in these facilities.

Earlier this year, 10 RT-PCR testing devices were delivered and installed at the Centers for Disease Control in 10 provinces. The testing devices were procured by the UNDP with funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

In support of Vietnam's roadmap for digital transformation to 2025, the UNDP's Covid-19 response project funded by Japan’s JSB is supporting the Ministry of Health to pilot a digital telehealth system in remote provinces to reduce the disease transmission risk and enhance universal health coverage, including for ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities.