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The Mission of the Diaspora African Forum (DAF), in partnership with Gradian Health System, has donated 300 airway kits worth $15,000 dollars to the Ministry of Health to help in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The donation is done to support the government of Ghana’s Covid-19 response efforts to build critical care capacity in the country’s health system.

The dignitaries who graced the occasion were Ambassador Dr. Erieka Bennett, Head of Mission Diaspora African Forum; Dr. Juliette Tuakali, DAF Board Member, and Chair of United Way World Wide; Nurse Brenda Powell, DAF Board Member; Akwasi Awua Ababio, Director of the Diaspora office of the President.

Those who joined the donation via zoom was Ms. Lina Sayed, Chief Executive Officer of Gradian Health Systems-New York and Rati Bishnoi, Communications Manager at Gradian Health Systems-New York.

According to the Head of Mission of the Diaspora African Forum H.E Ambassador Erieka Bennett, the support began this week with the 300 airway kits donation the Health Ministry in order for the physicians and the nurses across the country to help patients receive life-saving breathing and oxygen support during Covid-19, other respiratory illnesses, and critical medical procedures.

Speaking to the media after the donation, H.E Ambassador Erieka Bennett explained the reason behind the gesture that while vast majority of the people infected by Covid-19 experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 20 percent of people with the virus develop difficulty breathing and require hospital care; hence, the donation of the 300 airway kits.

“Every donated airway kit includes more than 20 critical supplies that the physicians and nurses can use to provide breathing support and oxygen therapy for Covid-19 patients, such as oxygen masks, endotracheal tubes, stethoscopes, and ventilator circuits. Each kit also includes a pulse oximeter which is a device critical for monitoring the amount of oxygen in a person’s blood and detecting when advanced care is required for Covid-19 patients”, she elaborated.

Ambassador Bennett stressed that the partnership with Gradian Health Systems is another example of the Diaspora African Forum’s stated mandate of supporting member state of the African Union toward full integration of Africans in the Diaspora, while also strengthening engagement among African nations.

“We Know that the Covid-19 pandemic currently raging around the world has had a devastating impact on people’s lives and the global economy…the Diaspora Africa Forum and Gradian Health Systems are collaborating to increase awareness on-the-ground, the governments, across healthcare systems, and African media to get the word out and be prepared to secure people”, Ambassador Bennett stated.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gradian Health Systems, Lina Sayed on the other hand said her outfit is honored to partner with the Diaspora African Forum to share experiences and resources to help support Ghana’s Covid-19 response.

“As a non-profit medical technology company that develops, distributes, and sustains world-class medical equipment for health care systems across Africa and Asia, we know equipping health care providers with the equipment, training, and support they need can transform care and the ability to respond to Covid-19. Gradian desires every anesthesia provider to have all the tools necessary to care for each patient, from high-quality anesthesia machines to every piece of equipment the patient deserves for optimal safety”, she stated.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the Ministry of Health, the Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Okoe Boye expressed the gratitude of the sector ministry to have received the 300 airway kits from the Diaspora African Forum and Gradian Health Systems.

He however wished that the donation will not be a one-time experience, looking forward to establishing a strong relationship with them that will be sustainable, progressive, and cherished along the line by all stakeholders of the relationship.

The Leader of Risk Communication for the Covid-19 National Response Team, Dr. Da Costa Aboagye who facilitated the donation also thanked the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders involved in making the donation possible.

He however said that the airway kits donated by the Diaspora African Forum and Gradian Health Systems will go a long way to help patients and also help in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.