Hanoi, April 27, 2020 — The United States Government recently announced a global financial commitment for countries affected by the novel coronavirus COVID-19, including Vietnam. Today, the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink announced that the U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing nearly $4.5 million to its implementing partners in Vietnam and is working in collaboration with the Government of Vietnam to meet priority outbreak response needs. 

Funds will be used for technical support, training, supplies for COVID-19 surveillance and case management; public health screening at points of entry; laboratory diagnostic capacity; community education and engagement; and infection prevention in health care settings. 

“USAID’s support to the control of coronavirus demonstrates the important partnership between the United States and Vietnam,” said Ambassador Kritenbrink. “We must ensure that the health needs of the Vietnamese people are addressed as we are faced with the spread of coronavirus, that healthcare workers are able to stay healthy and provide care for those who need it, and that Vietnam’s strong health care system can be sustained. This is critical to prevent and contain the threat of COVID-19.”

COVID-19 is having an enormous impact on the health of millions of people, on economies, and on societies everywhere. Vietnam has done an exemplary job of ensuring a comprehensive response to this public health crisis. USAID joins the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of State, Department of Defense, and others in providing support to meet this global health emergency. 

For decades, the United States has been the world's largest provider of bilateral assistance in public health. 

Since 2009, American taxpayers have generously made available more than $100 billion in health assistance and nearly $70 billion in humanitarian assistance globally. This generosity is underscored by our contributions to several crucial multilateral partners, which includes:

• U.S. contributions to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) was nearly $1.7 billion in 2019. This support will be critical going forward, as refugee populations are uniquely vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

• U.S. contributions to the UN Children’s Fund in 2019 totaled more than $700 million. The life-saving activities UNICEF has been doing for years -- such as immunization campaigns and health and sanitation training and assistance -- will save lives as we fight this dangerous pathogen.

Because an infectious-disease threat anywhere can become a threat everywhere, the United States calls on other donors to contribute to the global effort to combat COVID-19.    

The United States has worked closely with Vietnamese authorities for the past 25 years to improve the health of people in Vietnam. The United States has invested more than $706 million in health assistance and more than $1.8 billion in total assistance for Vietnam over the past 20 years alone. Over the last decade, the United States has provided substantial financial support to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging infectious diseases. The Government of Vietnam has developed a strong capacity in responding effectively to past infectious disease threats, and has mobilized at all levels to address this new disease challenge.

For more information about novel coronavirus disease COVID-19, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

For more information about USAID’s response to COVID-19, please visit: https://www.usaid.gov/coronavirus-covid-19