USAID delivers second share of emergency equipment to help Jamaica's COVID response

The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has delivered the second share of emergency equipment to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, to support the Government of Jamaica’s (GOJ) response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The equipment is part of the U.S. $2 million in assistance the USAID is providing to Jamaica to fight the COVID- 19 pandemic.

“The United States is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic not only with delivering funds. We want to ensure that we provide expert technical assistance, training, capacity building, health systems strengthening, and life-saving diagnostics and treatment.” said USAID/Jamaica Country Representative, Jason Fraser.

“Our critical, life-saving work will continue. We have reoriented our resources to ensure this remains our highest programmatic priority. We are adapting the way we do business amid this outbreak and ensuring we continue to support the people and Government of Jamaica,” he added.

The handover done, today, Tuesday, October 6, was the second in a series of planned transfers of critical equipment to the GOJ, following the first handover  back in June.

Equipment delivered included:

* 15 ICU beds
* 14 satellite phones
* 5 scanners
* 40 Port of Entry banners and
* 2000 Infection, Prevention and Control posters

The equipment is expected to bolster the Government of Jamaica’s COVID-19 emergency response, and directly aid activities that are vital for helping to flatten the curve.

The support will also address risk communication through awareness-raising of prevention measures, and good hygiene practices, optimising Jamaica’s health system capacity to care for COVID-19 patients, and support coordination and logistics at the national and regional levels.

This assistance builds upon U.S. investments of nearly U.S. $87 million in health and nearly U.S. $619 million total over the past 20 years for Jamaica.

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