Manzini – The United States government has donated four blood gas analysers worth E2.27 million to Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in Manzini, in a move expected to strengthen emergency and critical care services at one of Eswatini’s busiest public hospitals.
The equipment, valued at $164,620, was handed over to Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Marc Weinstock on behalf of the American government.
Blood gas analysis is a critical diagnostic tool that helps healthcare workers make immediate treatment decisions in emergency situations and optimise oxygen therapy for severely ill patients, capabilities that are particularly vital in intensive care and high dependency units. 
Weinstock said the donation goes beyond the supply of equipment. “I want to emphasize that this is not just about machines; it is about shared responsibility that places emphasis on sustainability, which will see Eswatini become less dependent on foreign assistance and move towards self-reliance,” he said.
The analysers were procured through the Global Health Supply Chain Program, supported by the United States Government, and are intended to deliver faster and more accurate diagnostic results at a hospital where speed can determine whether a patient lives or dies.
