Press Release

World Health Organization (WHO) delivers 100 pieces of oxygen concentrators to the Kyrgyz Republic to combat COVID-19

19 August 2020

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Today, WHO handed over 100 pieces of oxygen concentrators to the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic within the framework COVID-19 response in the Kyrgyz Republic. The oxygen concentrators are being provided under the WHO pipeline and the total cost of humanitarian aid comprises 59,000 USD.

Oxygen concentrators are of extreme importance in respiratory infectious disease management. The concentrators deliver pure, high quality oxygen with the appropriate concentration vital for the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients with low blood oxygen levels. These items are supplied upon the request of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to support COVID-19 response. The Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic plans to distribute the oxygen concentrators across the country.

“The donation is part of the COVID-19 response and mitigating its impact on the health system in the country. It is envisaged that the support will contribute towards strengthening the health care system and provide an added impetus to our joint efforts in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic”, highlighted Dr Nazira Artykova WHO Representative in Kyrgyzstan.

“The Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic expresses its gratitude to the World Health Organization for the assistance and support provided to the health care system of the Kyrgyz Republic. WHO provides comprehensive assistance to Kyrgyzstan in the fight against COVID-19. We have already received several shipments of humanitarian aid. We hope that our joint and fruitful work for the benefit of preserving the health of our citizens will be successfully continued”, noted Dr Madamin Karataev, Deputy Minister of Health.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO had delivered to Kyrgyzstan personal protective equipment and provided PCR test kits for COVID-19 response and laboratory confirmation of positive results. In addition, WHO had handed over supplies of laboratory consumables for sample collection and testing (tubes, swabs, kits, reagents, etc.).

WHO supports the Ministry of Health with e-learning training cycles for healthcare workers, including laboratory, primary health, hospital and public health specialists to respond to COVID-19.

Information: this assistance is provided as part of the joint humanitarian response under the Disaster Response Coordination Unit, which was activated on 16 March 2020 following the request of the Government to assist her in emergency preparedness and response for COVID-19 and setting a stage for early recovery. Chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator, the DRCU prioritizes and channels its support under six priority sectors: early recovery, education, food security and logistics, health, protection, and joint sector for water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and non-food items (NFI). The DRCU was set up in 2008 and its inter-agency teams comprise representatives of government ministries, UN agencies, international and local NGOs and representatives of donor community.