The United States Embassy in Georgetown today donated three oxygen generators to the Ministry of Health.
US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, and Guyana’s Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, participated in the official handover ceremony at the Ministry of Health.
A release from the US Embassy said that the oxygen generators have a combined value of US$495,000. The generators will be placed in Region 1 (Mabaruma Regional Hospital), Region 9 (Lethem Regional Hospital), and Region 8 (Mahdia Regional Hospital).
Training on their use will be scheduled at a later date at Lethem Regional Hospital. This donation is part of a U.S. Department of Defense strategy in Guyana to help Caribbean partners improve their response capabilities.
The release said that the oxygen generators will help to alleviate shortages in remote areas and support medical care for the most vulnerable communities by supplying oxygen in primary healthcare facilities.
“This donation will help over 61,000 people in regions 1, 8, and 9 by providing oxygen, which is essential in the fight against COVID 19. Because the oxygen is produced on-site and supplied directly to the facilities, there is no need for oxygen tanks. The plants provide an independent oxygen source, another significant savings for the Government of Guyana”, the release said.