Paramaribo, February 4, 2021 (PAHO/WHO) – At the s ’Lands Hospitaal, the PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr. Karen Lewis-Bell officially handed over 20 patient monitors and 12 biPAP machines (non-invasive ventilators) at a cost of USD$95,000 to the Ministry of Health to appropriately respond to the management of COVID-19 cases in the country. The Minister of Health, Dr. Amar Ramadhin, graciously accepted the donation and thanked PAHO/WHO for its continuous support.
The s ’Lands Hospitaal, one of the oldest hospitals in the country, has expanded the capacity of its Intensive Care Unit because of the pandemic and nine of these patient monitors will be used in this new Unit and three of the non-invasive ventilators will be used to support COVID-19 patients who do not yet required invasive forms of oxygen therapy. All other hospitals in the country will also receive both patient monitors and non-invasive ventilators for use in their facilities.
Throughout the course of the pandemic, the PAHO/WHO Office in Suriname has donated equipment for Surveillance, Contact Tracing and Case Management at the hospital level, supplies for the laboratory diagnostic services, personal protective equipment and hygiene supplies for health facilities and residential care facilities for the elderly. Additionally, PAHO/WHO continues to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and its partners in the appropriate use, maintenance and care of these equipment along with guidance on the management of cases at various points in the Health Care System.
