The United States Embassy in Manila yesterday said the Philippines will be among the countries that will benefit from a multi-million dollar funding to aid in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
“The US government announced a commitment of $37 million in financing from the Emergency Reserve Fund for Contagious Infectious Diseases at the US Agency for International Development for 25 countries affected by the novel coronavirus COVID-19 or at high risk of its spread,” the embassy said.
The USAID, through its administrator Mark Green, said in a separate statement the funding is the first part of the $100 million that the US government committed last month to help nations in their fight against the coronavirus.
“Building on ongoing USAID and other US government investments to help prepare and respond to infectious diseases under the Global Health Security Agenda, the new funding will help address the threat of COVID-19,” Green said.
He added the funding will help the Philippines and other country-beneficiaries to prepare their laboratories for large-scale testing for the virus, implement a public emergency plan for points of entry, activate case finding and event-based surveillance for influenza-like illnesses, train and equip rapid response teams, investigate and trace cases for the contacts of infected persons, and adapt training materials for health workers on COVID-19.
“Funds that are going through broad range of other partners will support six broad areas of works namely laboratory strengthening, surveillance for and rapid response to, infectious diseases, risk communications and engagement with communities, public health screening at points of entry, prevention and control of infection in health facilities and the management of COVID-19 cases,” Green said.
Aside from the Philippines, the other beneficiaries are Afghanistan, Angola, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Africa, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Zambia, South Africa, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Kyrgz Republic, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.
