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African Union and African private sector launch COVID-19 response Fund.

Ahead of an expected surge in cases of CoVID-19 in Africa, the African Union and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have launched a public-private partnership with theAfro Champions Initiative, known as the Africa COVID-19 response Fund. 


The partnership aims to raise an initial USD 150 million tor immediate needs to prevent transmission and up to USD 400 million to support sustainable medical response to the CovID-19 pandemic.


 The fund will help by pooling the resources requiredfor  the procurement of medical supplies and commodities; supporting the deployment of rapid responders across the continent as well as providing socio-economic support to the most vulnerable populations in Africa.


In a press release in Addis Ababa by the directorate of information and communication with a release number 023/2020 fated 7/4/2020, HE Cyril Ramaphosa, Chairperson of the African Union and President of the Republic of South Africacommended the effort and welcomed the creation of the joint AU – Africa CDC – Afro Champions partnership.


 He noted “while we continue to welcome expertise and feedback from regions already engaged in the fight against the novel corona virus, we must also establish an autonomous strike force.”
 “Other regions in the world are already paying a heavy tribute to CODVID 19 and their support will be limited therefore African money and African expertise must be mobilized”. he added


According to the release,the Africa COVID -19 response fund is a financial instrument to mobilise and manage funds from the private sector in Africa, and other well-wishers with the support of several African banks. The Fund will operate under the supervision of the African Union through its public health institution ,Africa CDC,which will determine priority interventions and actions.


“African Union agencies, World Health Organization, and other partners to ensure synergy andminimise duplication. We must also promote evidence – based public health practice for Surveillance prevention , diagnosis, treatment, and control of CoVID-19, ” said Dr John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.


 “The time has come for Africa too deploy forward-looking measures. We must start from now to strengthen our capacities in diagnostic tests, drug manufacturing and health infrastructure. Not only can the African private sector contributeto this fund” 


” The fund should also consider other actions ike prevention campaigns in companies, redeployment of production lines towards equipment and products needed against the pandemic, optimisation of transport and connectivity infrastructure to support health emergencies,” said Paulo Gomes, Vice Chair of the Afro champions Initiative and former Executive Director at the World Bank.


HE Cyril Ramaphosa said leveraging African solidarity,the initiative aims to implement a pan African self reliance strategy to halt the novel corona virus pandemic and therefore encouraged all and sundry to donate to the fund to account Name: AU Support Against COVID-19 with bank name: ECOBANK Kenya Ltd.


Source: www.xplonlinegh.com
by: Emmanuel Adu Gyamfi
Odopa2@gmail.com

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