As part of the US Government's efforts to respond to Covid-19 in Haiti, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) donated 250 oxygen cylinders to the Ministry of Public Health.

United States Chargée d'Affaires a.i. in Haiti, Kenneth Merten, said "I am proud that we continue to respond to Haiti’s urgent needs in combating the COVID-19 pandemic with support from U.S. government agencies, including USAID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Southern Command."

These 250 cylinders will be delivered to seven hospitals. Three of these hospitals have been caring for COVID-19 patients since the initial COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020: Hôpital Saint-Luke, Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais, and Hôpital de Bon-Repos (Hôpital de La Police). The remaining four sites are in the southern region of Haiti, which was recently affected by the August 14 earthquake: Hopital Saint-Boniface de Fonds des Blancs, Hôpital Sainte-Thérèse de Miragoâne, Hôpital Saint-Antoine de Jérémie, and Hôpital Saint-Michel de Jacmel.

A hospitalized COVID-19 patient experiencing severe symptoms will, on average, need two full oxygen cylinders each day, and many will need up to four cylinders per day. Oxygen production at most COVID-19 treatment centers in Haiti is insufficient to meet patients’ needs. While the full cylinders are in use, additional empty cylinders must be transported off-site to be refilled. USAID’s donation increases the number of cylinders readily available to replace the cylinders in use.

USAID’s donation of 250 oxygen cylinders will help ensure the uninterrupted availability of oxygen for COVID-19 patients receiving treatment. This supply will supplement the 50 oxygen concentrators that USAID previously donated.

HL/ HaitiLibre