Health minister Nguyễn Thanh Long (centre) at the meeting with Cambodian counterpart Mam Bunheng. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam stands ready to support Cambodia in its fight against COVID-19 as the latter is experiencing a serious wave of infections.

Vietnamese health minister Nguyễn Thanh Long made the statement on Thursday morning during a virtual meeting with Cambodian counterpart Mam Bunheng.

Minister Long keeps in high regard Cambodia’s efforts to contain the outbreaks, and said one of the lessons of Việt Nam in the fight against the pandemic is to involve the entire political system and the public.

“All health centres tasked with the treatment of COVID-19 patients are connected via telehealth system so that [the medical staff] could discuss and diagnose the challenging cases,” Long said, adding that in the third wave of infections lasting from late January to March – recording the biggest number of cases since the pandemic began at nearly 900 – Việt Nam has not recorded any deaths from COVID-19.

Long said Cambodian health centres could make contact with Việt Nam if they require support and Việt Nam would be willing to deploy its doctors and experts to assist the treatment of patients.

He also stressed the critical need for medical supplies and protective gear for the frontline workers given the intensifying outbreaks in Cambodia, and said the Government of Việt Nam has decided to send to Cambodia 800 ventilators, two million medical masks, 300,000 N95 masks and other medical supplies.

“We will send these supplies to Cambodia as soon as possible. Vietnamese airlines would transport the products from Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport to Phnom Penh International Airport,” Long said, adding that this is the biggest donation Việt Nam has made to a country in support of their pandemic prevention and control efforts.

The health minister hoped his Cambodian counterpart would direct prevention and control efforts especially at the border areas with Việt Nam, given that Việt Nam has recorded many cases of illegal entrants from the neighbouring country which might risk sparking another outbreak here.

Minister Long hopes Cambodia would quickly prevail against the pandemic, protecting the health and lives of Cambodian people, including Vietnamese people residing and working in Cambodia.

He also thanked Cambodia for having provided necessary medical care for Vietnamese COVID-19 patients contracted in the country.

Speaking at the meeting, the Cambodian health minister Mam Bunheng expressed his thanks to Việt Nam for its support for Cambodia's pandemic prevention and said there would be official exchanges on receiving support of Việt Nam through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Since the so-called February 20 Community Event earlier this year, Cambodia has recorded over 7,648 domestic cases, taking the tally to nearly 8,200, while throughout 2020, the country registered only 400 cases. 

The same day, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation expressed its appreciation of the Vietnamese Government providing US$300,000 in humanitarian aid for its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The provision of the aid demonstrates the continuous development of the two countries’ traditional friendship, solidarity, and neighbourliness, the ministry said in a press release.

Vietnamese leaders believe that under the wise leadership of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodia will soon overcome this difficult time posed by the pandemic and emerge stronger.

The Cambodian Government and people sincerely thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their continuous assistance in the effort to fight the pandemic in Cambodia. — VNS