NIGERIA is expected to take delivery of 250 US ventilators promised by President Donald Trump in April over the next two weeks as part of the ongoing battle to provide treatment for those suffering from coronavirus.
On April 28, at the height of the crisis, President Trump promised to send ventilators to Nigeria to assist in the treatment of Covid-19 cases in the country. In a phone call to President Muhammadu Buhari, President trump said the deliveries were part of a plan to assist Africa, which included sending 1,000 units to South Africa.
However, the deliveries to Nigeria were dependent on production and shipping times and there has consequently been a delay. This is not surprising given that the US is grappling with its own coronavirus internal problems, being the most affected country on earth, so all domestic production was diverted to domestic use.
On Monday this week, the US Embassy in Nigeria said the ventilators would arrive by the middle of June. It is not yet clear, however, whether the machines and accessories would be provided for free or whether Nigeria will have to pay for them and if so, how much the bill will come to.
An embassy spokesman said: “On April 28, President Donald Trump spoke with President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria to discuss efforts by both nations to battle the Covid-19 pandemic. President Trump affirmed the United States’ strong support for the people of Nigeria and offered additional support for the nation’s response efforts, including by producing and donating ventilators to the people of Nigeria.
“The United States anticipates that Nigeria will receive the ventilators by mid-June, depending on production and shipping times.” Ventilators cost between $5,000 and $30,000, depending on the model, accessories, service plans and shipping.
