The French Ambassador Christian Lechervy and the Yangon General Hospital signed an agreement this week on formalizing a grant worth $58,000 to provide medical aid to help with the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of this medical assistance package, France donated to Myanmar 5 Powered air purifying respirators (PAPR), 2 ICU intensive care beds, 2 general electric monitors, 2 transport ventilators, 3 infusion pumps, 3 syringe pumps, 650 face mask, 300 goggles and 1200 FFP2 respirators. This equipment have been given to the Yangon General Hospital in order to reinforce its health care capacities, protect the medical workers and limit the spread of the virus.

This aid is intended to demonstrate France’s solidarity with Myanmar in the common fight against COVID-19 and to strengthen health services in Yangon.

France had previously extended financial support to the National Health Laboratory in its fight against COVID-19 which is on the front line as it carries out tests to identify the disease.

A batch of medical equipment was provided by the Pasteur Institute to the Yangon NHL in March and April thanks to funding of the French Development Agency.

French companies and citizens in Myanmar have also taken many steps to contribute to the COVID-19 crisis response especially by providing assistance to vulnerable sections of society by distributing masks, nutrition and grocery to workers and people in need in nearby communities.