Voice of America
24 Feb 2021, 06:35 GMT+10
The World Health Organization, the global health initiative UNITAID and a consortium of partners Tuesday announced a new task force to secure oxygen supplies for COVID-19 patients in low and middle-income nations.
Speaking to reporters at the United Nations' Geneva headquarters, UNITAID spokesman Herve Verhoosel said low-and-middle-income nations have faced challenges maintaining oxygen supplies since the pandemic started. He said some hospitals have simply run out, resulting in preventable deaths.
Verhoosel said more than 500,000 people in low- and middle-income countries currently need more than 1.1 million cylinders of oxygen per day, equal to eight million cubic meters.
Based on assessments provided by WHO's Health Emergencies Program,
task force members are hoping to raise $90 million to address oxygen needs in up to 20 countries, including Malawi, Nigeria and Afghanistan.
Verhoosel said UNITAID and another task force member group, the health research foundation WELLCOME, will provide the initial $20 million, and they will determine the most urgent, short-term needs as well overall funding needed for the next year.
Get a daily dose of International Travel News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to International Travel News.
More InformationSAN FERNANDO CITY, Mar. 8 (PIA) -- The Provincial Government of La Union still requires the negative reverse transcription polymerase ...
New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI/ThePRTree): If you are willing to explore the beautiful desert safari in Dubai, the Desertraja, ...
Andrew Jones poured in 16 points and four other Texas players scored in double figures as the 15th-ranked Longhorns rolled ...
Stephen Curry captured the NBA 3-Point Contest on Sunday night, swishing his last shot -- a bonus two-point ball -- ...
Rocket Watts had 21 points off the bench and host Michigan State avenged a loss to rival Michigan three nights ...
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said it would take a "masterpiece" for him to figure out how to solve his side's ...
PARIS, France: The French government will not require residents of the Paris region to be locked down this weekend. However, ...
LARISSA, Greece: Central Greece was struck by a magnitude 6.0 earthquake on Wednesday, which was also felt in nearby Albania ...
SAN FERNANDO CITY, Mar. 8 (PIA) -- The Provincial Government of La Union still requires the negative reverse transcription polymerase ...
New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI/ThePRTree): If you are willing to explore the beautiful desert safari in Dubai, the Desertraja, ...
BACOLOD CITY, March 8 (PIA) -- A strong manifestation on the safety of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines was ...
New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): With the global and regional terror matrix worsening by the day, the fact that ...