National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has revealed an additional 18 ventilators will reach the Maldives by early May.
Speaking at the daily press briefing held at the NEOC, Spokesperson Mohamed Mabrook Azeez said the 18 ventilators are supplied by Meditech Maldives Private Limited, which was one of the companies contracted to supply ventilators.
The government has planned to purchase 135 ventilators as part of the efforts to increase the total number of equipment to be utilised to treat COVID-19 patients in the Maldives. World Health Organisation (WHO) will be providing 65 ICU stationary ventilators and 10 portable ventilators to the Maldives, while two companies have been contracted to supply another 70 ventilators.
NEOC stated the Maldives currently has a total of 97 ventilators, with 4 of the 6 new ventilators purchased recently assigned to treat COVID-19 patients. The government has spent USD 84,300 to buy the 6 ventilators.