UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE TO VIETNAM

Pacific Command Delivers Medical Supplies To Vietnam

A hospital in the rural Vietnamese province of Lai Chau is getting some much needed help from the U.S. Pacific Command, the senior headquarters for all U.S. military operating in the Pacific and Indian Ocean region based in Honolulu, Hawaii.  A shipment of more than $50,000 dollars worth of basic medical supplies arrived in Vietnam last week. Pacific Command donated and delivered the surplus supplies. Major Robert Lucius, Marine and Naval Attache for the U.S. embassy in Hanoi says the hospital in Lai Chau is truly a deserving recipient of supplies.

The inventory team

When I was there they had an acute shortage of hospital beds, wheelchairs and basic diagnostic equipment,” Lucius said.

The surplus medical supplies made their way to Vietnam with the help of the Department of Defense’s Humanitarian Assistance Excess Property Program. The program seeks to improve relations and cooperation with countries through the donation of excess supplies and equipment. Major Lucius says the donation of the medical supplies to Lai Chau will go a long way toward continuing to strengthen  relations with the  Vietnamese government. 

“The Vietnamese people are very grateful for the supplies. Though they are having a hard time believing there are no strings attached.”

Unpacking supplies and equipment

This is the third time in the past six years PACOM has delivered excess medical supplies to Vietnam. Lucius says it is the first time, however, the United States has provided assistance to such a remote province. 

“This is the first opportunity we’ve had to provide humanitarian assistance to the Northern part of Vietnam. We hope to provide more assistance like this in the future.”  An addition shipment of medical supplies worth $50,000 is expected to arrive in July.