Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. In response to COVID-19 pandemic, European Union funded “Recovering Together” project, implemented by World Vision, is contributing in the form of a donation of 370 equipped hospital beds as an expression of the solidarity of the European Union during this challenging time.

Based on the needs registered by the Ministry of Health, the donation will provide adequate support to the Ministry of Health and ensure the state hospitals have access to the necessary medical supplies to provide timely treatment to the infected patients.

During this critical time, Vice Minister of Health M.Battuvshin said “At a time when the number of coronavirus infections in Mongolia is increasing day by day, I would like to thank the EU-funded“ Recovering Together” project for providing necessary treatment to patients in need. On behalf of the people of Mongolia, the Ministry of Health and the Government of Mongolia, I would like to express my gratitude to the European Union for our collaboration in training health workers in response skills, assisting vulnerable people and providing vaccines. We see these hospital beds as the most important assistance of this time, and we will focus on allocating them where they are needed and being effective”.

Expressing the European Union commitment to support Mongolia during the COVID-19 crisis response, European Union Ambassador to Mongolia H.E. Traian Hristea said: “As part of EU assistance to Mongolia, today we are handing over 370 hospital beds worth 315,000 Euros or 1 billion 74 million MNT, which are to be used for the health service for patients with COVID-19. I am glad that we are delivering this assistance at the time of increased need for medical equipment and supplies and increased internal cases of COVID 19 outbreak in Mongolia. Moreover, in the framework of COVAX, financed significantly by the European Union and its Member States, Mongolia should receive 163.200 Astra Zeneca and 25.740 Pfizer vaccines.”

Under the COVAX facility Advance Market Commitment (AMC) which is financed by donors, including the EU and its Member States. You will recall that ‘Team Europe’ have so far contributed €850 million to COVAX (€500 million from Commission and the EIB, and €350 million from EUMSs).

Country Representative of World Health Organization Office in Mongolia, Dr. Sergey Diorditsa also highlighted that “I am happy to note that I was invited here as WHO contributed by advising EU delegation on prioritization in public health investments during this time. WHO will continue to work with EU and other partners to discuss and find solution to provide timely support. Taking this opportunity, I’d like to thank His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Traian Hristea and the European Union and National Director of World Vision Mongolia Mrs. Bolortsetseg.B for this very timely support provided under the “Recovering together project.”

National Director of World Vision Mongolia Mrs.Bolortsetseg Bold said “We are pleased to collaborating with the European Union on “Recovering Together” project. Within the framework of the project, 370 hospital equipped beds meeting international standards are being supplied to make health services more accessible to the public. Furthermore, the project will work together with the local authorities to address the negative impact of Covid 19 on target households”.

Together with European Union and other donor and partner organizations, World Vision Mongolia responded in meeting 357,000 people, including more than 242,000 children’s emerging needs in the negative impacts of COVID-19.

Project Background

The project “Recovering Together” supported by the European Union, and implemented by the World Vision, was launched in the beginning for 2021. The main objective of the project is to support vulnerable households, impacted by Covid-19 through livelihood recovery assistance and increase their access to nutrition, health and WASH services to meet basic urgent needs. Furthermore, the project will strengthen the healthcare system by ensuring health facilities are equipped with Covid-19 response and prevention equipment.  “Recovering Together” project is supplying 370 hospital beds by keeping the current MoH and WHO standards as well as ensuring timely delivery.

Source: Delegation of the European Union to Mongolia