EU and WHO deliver medical supplies to the COVID-19 frontline in Azerbaijan

To help patients recover from severe illness due to COVID-19, the European Union (EU) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) handed over to the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan 2 ventilators for invasive and a BiPAP
device for non-invasive oxygen therapy, 4 patient monitors, and 4 high flow nasal oxygen cannula. 4000PZR test
reagents were also provided to the Ministry that will help to timely identify COVID-19 cases. Moreover, 100
tablets, 5 laptops, 5 modems, and software for them were delivered to help with the surveillance of COVID-19
cases. 

The donation of these medical supplies is part of the Solidarity for Health Initiative project funded by the
European Union and implemented by the WHO Country Office in Azerbaijan. On 27 March 2020, the EU
announced a large assistance package to help prevent, detect and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in 6
countries of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, including Azerbaijan. Previously, 4 medical shipments were
delivered to Azerbaijan in July, September, and December 2020 as part of the Solidarity for Health Initiative
containing large numbers of medical equipment to help patients, as well as personal protective equipment to
protect healthcare workers on the COVID-19 frontline. Moreover, the EU and WHO has also launched a new 3-year
COVID-19 Vaccination Support Project in Azerbaijan aimed at supporting mass vaccination to overcome the
pandemic and strengthening the country’s routine immunization system.

“The European Union Solidarity for Health Initiative in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries is part of a
the common European response to the outbreak of COVID-19. Based on the solidarity principle the Initiative
supports the healthcare systems of partner countries in their fight against the virus and helps them to address
better the needs of the most vulnerable people. Since the start of the pandemic, the EU and its Team Europe
package that combines resources from the EU, its Member States, and international financial institutions have
provided wide-ranging assistance to all six Eastern Partnership countries, including Azerbaijan to mitigate the
impact of COVID-19, thus contributing to their longer-term social and economic resilience”, said Ambassador
Peter Michalko, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has become a major challenge for the whole world. We have been living in this
situation for almost two years now. No country’s health care system could withstand this challenge alone.
Therefore, international cooperation is very important in the fight against the pandemic, ” noted Dr. Viktor
Gasimov, Deputy Minister of Health of Azerbaijan, and thanked the European Union and the World Health
Organization for the support provided.

“For more than a year and a half, thanks to the continued support of the European Union and in cooperation
with national health counterparts, we have been working hard within the project to contribute to Azerbaijan’s
pandemic response. During this time, we supported both immediate and more structural healthcare needs of
the country, through the delivery of medical supplies, providing trainings, technical knowledge sharing, and

awareness campaigns”, Dr. Hande Harmanci, WHO Representative and Head of Country Office in Azerbaijan said.
Taking the opportunity, she also welcomed the newly appointed EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan and wished him
success in his tenure in the country.