'Because an infectious-disease threat anywhere can be a threat everywhere, we call on other donors to contribute to the effort to combat COVID-19 as well'
The United States has committed a $37 million fund for Bangladesh and 24 other countries who are affected by novel coronavirus COVID-19 or are at high risk of its spread.
US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green made the announcement on Tuesday.
The fund will be released from the USAID’s Emergency Reserve Fund for Contagious Infectious Diseases for the World Health Organisation (WHO), and other multilateral institutions and programs led by USAID's implementing partners.
This is the first US funding committed from the pledge of up to $100 million announced by the Department of State on February 7.
“Because an infectious disease threat anywhere can be a threat everywhere, we call on other donors to contribute to the effort to combat COVID-19 as well,” said the administrator.
Funds going to WHO will help the governments of currently affected or at risk developing countries prepare their laboratories for large scale testing for COVID-19, implement a public-health emergency plan for points of entry, activate case finding and event based surveillance for influenza like illnesses, train and equip rapid response teams, investigate cases and trace the contacts of infected persons, and adapt COVID-19 training materials for health workers.
The money that will go through a broad range of other partners will support six broad areas of work -- laboratory strengthening, surveillance for, and rapid response to, infectious diseases, risk communications and engagement with communities, public health screening at points of entry, the prevention and control of infections in health facilities, and the management of COVID-19 cases.
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