FIJI, SUVA, U.S. Embassy in Fiji, Kiribati, Naura, Tonga, and Tuvalu -- The U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Tony Greubel donated approximately FJ$745,000 (US $350,000) in supplies to the Government of Fiji in a handover ceremony at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Supplies facility.
Chargé d’affaires Greubel said, “The United States Government and Indo-Pacific Command commend the extraordinary efforts made by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to combat COVID-19 in Fiji over the past 18 months and are proud to support these efforts with this donation.”
This medical equipment donation is part of the United States’ effort to support partners in their COVID-19 response. The donation included medical personal protective equipment (PPE), miscellaneous hospital equipment, linens, bedside screens, mattresses, and laptop computers. Defense Attaché, Commander Victor Lange, accompanied the Chargé at the event, and the U.S. Government procured all the supplies through local vendors. The donation was funded by the United States Indo-Pacific Command’s Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA) program to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
These donations help to protect the health and livelihoods of communities in the region by building health sector capacity in infection prevention and control, laboratory capacity, testing and surveillance, case management, and vaccine introduction and management. Today’s donation also supplements the U.S. Government’s donation of 150,080 doses of the Moderna vaccine donated directly to Fiji through the COVAX facility in July of this year.