PAHO/WHO Representative Suriname Dr. Lilian Reneau-Vernon, and Minister of Health Dr. Amar Ramadhin during the handover of medical equipment and supplies
Suriname, March 28, 2023 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is pleased to announce the donation of medical equipment and supplies to the Ministry of Health of Suriname as part of the Response to COVID-19 Pandemic. The handover ceremony took place at the Bureau of Medicines Supply Suriname (BVGS) where representatives from both organizations were present.
The donated items include 2000 face shields, 56000 FFP2 respirators, 20 oxygen, 20 consumable accessories packages, each containing bottle humidifiers with tubes, air inlet filters, bacterial filters, HEPA air filters, oxygen outlets, castors, and power cables, 200 adult nasal oxygen cannulas with tips, 200 pediatric nasal oxygen cannulas with tips, 100 pediatric Venturi masks with O2 percentage lock and tube, 20 handheld oximeters, 16,080 surgical gowns, and 27,000 latex examination gloves.
These items will greatly enhance the Ministry of Health's ability to provide critical healthcare services to the people of Suriname, especially during these challenging times. The donated items will be distributed, in a transparent manner, to hospitals according to their specific needs, ensuring that the equipment and supplies will be used where they are needed most to provide critical healthcare services to the people of Suriname.
The oxygen concentrators, consumable accessories packages, and oximeters will help in the treatment of patients with severe respiratory illnesses. The face shields, respirators, surgical gowns, and examination gloves will protect healthcare workers from exposure to infectious diseases.
"We are immensely grateful to PAHO/WHO for yet another valuable donation of medical equipment and supplies. These supplies are aimed for the use of COVID-19, which is still present among us. However, as of last year the treatment of COVID-19 has been integrated within our regular health care treatment, thus we can use these supplies to treat patients and protect our health care workers against other infectious diseases", said Minister of Health Dr. Amar Ramadhin.
Since the start of the pandemic, PAHO/WHO has been working closely with the Ministry of Health in Suriname to provide technical assistance, equipment, and supplies to support the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest donation is a demonstration of PAHO/WHO's continued commitment to improving the health and well-being of the people of Suriname.
PAHO/WHO Representative Suriname Dr. Lilian Reneau-Vernon remarked that PAHO will continue to support Suriname, as it has during the pandemic as well as now in the aftermath. "We are hopeful that the hospitals in Suriname that will be receiving these equipments and supplies, will ensure continued and quality patient care", she said.
PAHO/WHO is proud to support the Ministry of Health in its efforts to improve the country's health system and looks forward to further collaboration.
