Georgian COVID hospitals receive ventilators and protective equipment from EU and WHO
By Khatia Bzhalava
Thursday, February 18
On Wednesday, the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) handed over 10 ventilators and 1 000 items of protective equipment to N. Kipshidze Central University Clinic of Tbilisi State Medical University for the treatment and care of patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, Ekaterine Tikaradze, EU Ambassador to Georgia, Carl Hartzell, Head of the WHO country office in Georgia, Silviu Domente, and Head of the EIB Regional Representation for the South Caucasus, Maciej Czura visited the clinic.
The support package has already provided a significant amount of medical supplies throughout the region, including more than 1.8 million items of personal protective and medical equipment which has been delivered to Georgia.
As EU reports, the initiative aims to assure an effective response to the current crisis and strengthen the overall readiness of the Health sector in Georgia. Within the framework of the initiative, a series of training for the healthcare workers and awareness-raising events for the general public related to COVID-19 have been conducted in Georgia.
The Health Minister thanked the EU and WHO for their support and partnership and stressed that the close cooperation with the EU from the first day of the pandemic has helped the country successfully handle all the challenges.
As Ambassador Hartzell noted, the assistance, which is a part of GEL 1.5 billion worth of support provided to Georgia for overcoming the COVID-19 crisis. The Ambassador welcomed the allocations of Covid vaccines under the EU-supported COVAX platform and affirmed the EU’s continuous support towards Georgia.
Silviu Domente, Head of the WHO country office in Georgia notes that until Covid vaccines are available, parties should continue their efforts in reducing the spread of the virus, "including through strengthening capacities of Intensive Care Units managing critical patients and protecting the health workers.”
According to the Head of the EIB Regional Representation for the South Caucasus, Maciej Czura, EIB has provided a Euro 100 million loan to Georgia, guaranteed by the EU, to modernize 7 major hospitals and obtain essential Covid-19 related equipment.
“The loan covers the procurement of vaccines, and establishing an effective supply chain to provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for COVID-19 patients. As a part of Team Europe, EIB provided EUR 400 million of financing, guaranteed by the European Fund for Sustainable Development, to support the participation of low and middle income economies in COVAX Advance Market Commitment, ” noted Czura.
The EU and Team Europe, including the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, and the Member States, are some of the strongest supporters of the COVAX, a facility through which Georgia will receive the first doses of vaccine. The EU and Team Europe have so far announced contributions of more than Euro 870 million to the facility.
