Medical staff move a patient into the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center emergency room on Tuesday in Brooklyn, New York. Việt Nam and the US have worked together to facilitate the logistics and approvals necessary to expedite the delivery of personal protective equipment to the US. — AFP/VNA Photo

HÀ NỘI — The first of two initial shipments of more than 450,000 DuPont protective suits made in Việt Nam departed Hà Nội on Tuesday, bound for the US.

The deal to send to the personal protective equipment (PPE) vital in the treatment of COVID-19 patients was reached between the Vietnamese Government and the US embassy in Việt Nam.

The US Department of Health and Human Services contracted with FedEx Express to expedite delivery of the suits to the US Strategic National Stockpile to address the urgent need for PPE for frontline health workers tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. 

The US and Vietnamese governments have co-operated extensively in the COVID-19 fight. Since the beginning of this crisis, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have been collaborating with Vietnamese officials to monitor and respond to the evolving COVID-19 situation. 

US Ambassador to Việt Nam Dan Kritenbrink stated: “Over the past 20 years, the US has invested more than US$706 million in health assistance for Việt Nam, and over the past decade has provided substantial technical and financial support to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging and serious infectious diseases. 

"These investments by our two countries are paying off at this critical time. 

"The connections established between American and Vietnamese health professionals have been instrumental as we fight this epidemic together.”

A recently announced $2.9 million in additional health assistance from USAID will help the Vietnamese Government accelerate laboratory systems; strengthen case-finding and event-based surveillance; and support technical experts for rapid response, risk communication, and infection prevention and control.

“This shipment will help protect health care professionals working on the front lines against COVID-19 in the US and demonstrates the strength of the US-Việt Nam partnership," Ambassador Kritenbrink added. — VNS