(From left to right) US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, Deputy Minister of Health Trần Văn Thuấn, and Director of Bạch Mai Hospital Đào Xuân Cơ at the launch ceremony of a new liquid oxygen system provided by USAID on Sunday. Photo courtesy of US Embassy

HÀ NỘI — US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Vietnamese government and public health leaders celebrated the start of the installation of a new liquid oxygen system provided by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on Sunday.

The Bạch Mai oxygen system is the largest of 13 such systems being provided by USAID to healthcare facilities across Việt Nam to support patients with severe cases of COVID-19.

Beyond COVID-19, strengthening access to oxygen can improve outcomes for newborns in respiratory distress; children with pneumonia, sepsis, and congenital heart disease; adults with tuberculosis and beyond.

“The US Government is proud to be a leading partner of the Government of Việt Nam on its COVID-19 response and advancing health security,” said Deputy Secretary Sherman. 

“This new liquid oxygen system will significantly improve critical care capacity in Hà Nội at one of Việt Nam’s largest hospitals. We are proud to provide Việt Nam with 13 liquid oxygen systems - to strengthen the nation’s health care system and save lives.”  

The new liquid oxygen system consists of an on-site storage tank, with two vaporizers to convert liquid oxygen to gaseous oxygen, and a pressure regulator, which will be connected to the hospital’s piping to transport the oxygen to patient bedsides. It will provide a safe and reliable source of medical oxygen for up to 1,000 patients per day at the hospital.

USAID is also providing staff training, equipment, and supplies to administer the oxygen, such as high-flow nasal tubing and patient monitors, which allow hospital staff to efficiently track patient vital signs and quickly respond to changes in patient conditions.

The installation of the new system at Bạch Mai Hospital is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States and Việt Nam have joined hands to tackle one of the greatest public health challenges in recent times.

US contributions, including technical support, life-saving medical equipment, and nearly 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, have enhanced Việt Nam’s remarkable response to this global challenge. — VNS