U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Vietnam -- HEATLH SUPPORT TO VIETNAM SINCE 1994. In 1994, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) initiated support to HIV/AIDS programs. Since that time, almost $1 billion in health assistance has been provided to Vietnam through a whole of government approach. Coordinated efforts from Centers from Disease Control (CDC), Department of Defense (DoD), and USAID have resulted in programs for AIDS relief, Influenza detection and management, Vietnam’s active participation in the Global Heath Security Agenda and recognition as a regional leader in pandemic detection and mitigation.
Health cooperation between USG and Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic included $13 million and 100 ventilators provided to Vietnam while the Vietnamese government provided millions of pieces of Personal Protective equipment to the United States.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HEALTH ENGAGEMENTS
Health Security and Health Diplomacy efforts such as coordinating ten Pacific Partnership engagements, support to Vietnam’s coastal medicine and disaster management initiative, support to Vietnam’s UN Peace Keeping Operations, Trauma System Strengthening, ongoing engagements in Undersea Medicine and Aviation Medicine. The US Military Medical Section is a principal partner of Vietnam Military Medical University, the Military Medical Department, and the Ministry of Health.
Naval Medical Research Unit– 2 (NAMRU-2) has worked with the Military Medical Department and the Ministry of Health since 2013 to conduct malaria and respiratory infectious disease surveillance. Assignment of a NAMRU-2 staff member to Vietnam has resulted in a 10-fold increase in requested collaborative projects in FY-21.
The Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP) was established in 2005. DHAPP has provided $20 million to support military health system enhancement and for programs that support throughput and quality assurance during collection and HIV testing.
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency – Biological Threat Reduction Program (DTRA-BTRP) works to minimize risks from dangerous pathogens from deliberate or accidental release—or—natural infectious disease outbreaks, by employing enhanced biosafety, security, and surveillance methods. The program implemented the One Health reporting and disease diagnostic system to enhance Vietnam’s capability to detect, diagnose, and report biologic events. Since 2015 DTRA-BTRP has provided equipment valued at $2.4 million to support biosafety, biosecurity, and bio-surveillance capacity strengthening in Vietnam. They have also provided or supported in person training for 388 scientists and clinicians.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COVID-19 SUPPORT
$691,000 for 77 Ultra-low temperature freezers
$123,000 for a mobile COVID testing capability in Hanoi
$66,000 for a PCR machine for Phu Yen Department of Health
$360,000 for DNA sequencers for Bach Mai and Cho Ray Hospitals
US GOVERNMENT COVID-19 VACCINE ASSISTANCE
The Biden Administration has committed $4 billion to the COVAX fund. An additional 80 million doses of COVID vaccines were committed and delivered at the end of June 2021, including a minimum of 17 million doses to Asia. Prior to the G7 summit, President Biden committed to purchasing 500 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine by the end of 2021 for use in 92 low and middle-income countries.