The United States government has mobilized a $25 million fund through USAID to support Bangladesh’s COVID-19 readiness and response efforts.
US Ambassador Earl Miller met Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research Director Dr. Meerjady Sabrina Flora on Wednesday and advised her of the US plan of action for the funding.
They discussed ways to coordinate the two governments’ actions in countering COVID-19 in Bangladesh, and how future tranches of funding could be best allocated.
As the COVID-19 outbreak expands geographically, the US government, through USAID and other agencies will continue to play a vital role in supporting the global response, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday, reports UNB.
The fund will support three priority areas -- strengthening infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in health facilities; improving specimen transport and referral systems; and increasing risk awareness communication and outreach.
This fund will add to the ongoing US Agency for International Development (USAID) and other US government investments in the health sector.
Specifically, USAID is providing $7m to the World Health Organization (WHO) to work in partnership with the government of Bangladesh for rapid diagnosis, case management, IPC, and awareness-raising concerning COVID-19.
USAID is also providing $650,000 for its Infectious Disease Detection and Surveillance (IDDS) program implemented by nonprofit FHI360, and an additional $650,000 to Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program implemented by nonprofit Management Sciences for Health (MSH).
The programs will focus on infection prevention, control, sample transportation and referral.
USAID is also providing $50,000 to Johns Hopkins University to develop and disseminate materials to raise wider awareness about COVID-19 in Bangladesh, particularly information critical for front line health care workers.
The US government has recently announced a commitment of $37 million in financing from the Emergency Reserve Fund for Contagious Infectious Diseases at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for 25 countries either affected by novel coronavirus COVID-19 or at high risk of its spread.
The US government is providing the funds to the WHO, and other multilateral institutions and programs led by USAID implementing partners in individual countries.
These are the first US government funds committed from a recent pledge of up to $100 million to be used worldwide.
