EU, WHO to Help Georgian Healthcare System Cope with COVID-19

The European Union and the World Health Organization (WHO) together are providing medical supplies and expertise to medical laboratories and staff in Georgia against the pandemic.

EU Ambassador to Georgia, Carl Hartzell met World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Kluge, during Dr. Kluge’s official five-day visit to Georgia.

The meeting aimed at discussion of the current status of the EU support to the county’s healthcare system in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, further developments and perspectives of cooperation with the WHO.

“An important part of the European Union’s efforts to support Georgia during this pandemic is the direct support we are providing to the Georgian health sector. In this field, we have provided funding to WHO to deliver over 2 million pieces of medical equipment to laboratories and hospitals in Georgia, in addition, WHO is providing training to healthcare workers as well as to other high-risk groups. We are now looking forward to seeing another large shipment of healthcare assistance arriving shortly. We are also discussing with the WHO ways to support vaccine deployment and vaccination efforts. This will be challenging, but we will be working hard through different channels to make sure that we do as much as we can to help to bring Georgia out of this health crisis,” Hartzell said.

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the EU Ambassador for the strong support to the people of Georgia, the government of Georgia and the World Health Organization to strengthen health in these unprecedented times,” stated Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe after the meeting. “We discussed, to strengthen our collaboration both in this acute phase, including on vaccination, deployment and control of the pandemic, but also looking further, recognizing that health is such an important driver of social cohesion, economic development and ultimately regional security.”

Dr. Hans Kluge is paying a five-day working visit to Georgia.

By Ana Dumbadze