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File photo used for representation.
JOHANNESBURG: The United States. the government is donating “ up to 1,000 ” fans to South Africa to help the country respond to COVID-19 as the Trump administration addresses criticism that it has not done enough for countries in need.
“ South Africa is the first country in the world to receive this state-of-the-art equipment ” from National Security Council and YOU SAIDthe US embassy said in a tweet. Last week, however, Mexico said it received a US shipment of 211 fans as part of the aid promised by the President. Donald trump.
The United States will soon make similar donations to countries around the world, according to embassy officials.
South Africa has the most confirmed cases of coronavirus in Africa with more than 11,300, including more than 200 deaths. Virus Cases on the 54-nation continent are now above 66,000.
For weeks, US officials have indicated that the virus crisis in the home has delayed the shipment of crucial medical equipment to other countries.
But in recent days, the Trump administration has been making plans to ship some 8,000 of the breathing machines to foreign countries in late July. The White House has not said how many have been shipped, and it is unclear if some nations would pay for fans, which cost between $ 5,000 and $ 30,000, depending on the model.
Trump has spoken to the leaders of South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Kenya in recent days about the pandemic. Nigeria just called. We are giving them 250 fans, ” Trump said last week. In a tweet, he said that Ethiopia had also ordered the machines.
Africa has some of the weakest health systems in the world, and experts have warned that the virus will quickly overwhelm them. African countries have teamed up with each other and with the private sector to compete with the world’s wealthiest countries for scarce medical equipment, including much-needed test kits.
Some African nations are also turning to manufacturing the necessary equipment, a development that could help accelerate the industrialization of a continent that has long imported much of its medicines and other health items from abroad.
Fans produced in the United States donated to South Africa are worth $ 14 million, and with accessories, service and shipping plans, the total donation is worth $ 20 million, the United States Embassy said in a statement Tuesday.
The donation carries the full financial support of the US government. USA South Africa’s COVID-19 response to more than $ 41 million, according to the statement.
