The COVID-19 pandemic has placed great stress on healthcare systems of many countries around the world, including Armenia. Armenia has many active COVID-19 cases that the country’s healthcare system has been overwhelmed.

In response to requests for assistance under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, a team of medical experts from Germany has landed by a special flight to Armenia last week. For 14 days the medical staff will help their Armenian colleagues in the fight against the virus, working in four of the COVID19 designated hospitals with the patients.

Τhe group consists of 16 healthcare specialists from ISAR Germany (International Search and Rescue), partners of the INGENIOUS project, and Caritas Germany. More specifically, within the medical team are emergency doctors, nurses, specialists for artificial respiration, intensive care staff and experts in the manufacture of disinfectants.

For this purpose, the German medical team has offered 2,000 sets of protective equipment, respirators, oxygen concentrators, an X-ray device and medication. In addition, the ISAR Germany team of experts created training videos to support the patients in an early stage to prevent that they require an artificial respirator.

The efforts of the German medical team are also supported by the World Health Organisation, the Robert Koch Institute, the Federal Ministry of Health and the German Air Force.

The medical team from Germany was welcomed by EU Ambassador to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin, Ambassador of Germany to Armenia Michael Banzhaf, UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Shombi Sharp, WHO Representative in Armenia Egor Zaitsev, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Avet Adonts and First Deputy Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan.

The EU coordinates and co-finances the transport of the medical experts to Armenia.