Japan contributes $2.7 million to nine countries in Americas to fight COVID-19
The Government of Japan agreed to contribute more than US $ 2.7 million to help nine countries in the Americas - Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela — to expand their response to the pandemic of the new coronavirus COVID-19.
Japan's financial contribution will support the response efforts of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) that it has deployed in those countries to mitigate the impact of the spread of the virus and curb the transmission of COVID-19 from person to person in the Americas.
According to the agreement signed between PAHO and the Government of Japan, the funds will be used in the nine beneficiary countries to strengthen their capacities to detect cases, monitor them and control COVID-19 outbreaks.
The project also aims to increase the capacity of national health systems to care for patients with COVID-19 and to protect vulnerable people. In addition, it aims to strengthen the provision of reliable public health information on the COVID-19 outbreak and protection measures to the people involved in the response, as well as to the general population.
Japan's $2.7 million contribution will be available for nine months and work will begin immediately, said Dr. Ciro Ugarte, who heads PAHO's Department of Health Emergencies.
"We thank the Government of Japan for helping our countries to combat the serious challenges they face due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will allow them to strengthen their preparedness and response operations to save lives and protect the most vulnerable people, including health workers, as well as help them reduce transmission of the virus among people, in an effort to curb the spread of the disease, "said Ugarte.
Japan's donation will contribute the US $ 94.8 million needed to support the countries and territories of the Americas through August 2020 in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The response strategy has two main objectives: to stop the transmission of the virus and to mitigate the health impact of COVID-19 in the region.
PAHO, as the specialized health agency in the Americas and the Regional Office of the World Health Organization, provides leadership, coordination, and assistance to combat the spread of COVID-19, save lives, and protect the most vulnerable people in the 52 countries and territories of the Americas.
According to the agreement signed between PAHO and the Government of Japan, the funds will be used in the nine beneficiary countries to strengthen their capacities to detect cases, monitor them and control COVID-19 outbreaks.
The project also aims to increase the capacity of national health systems to care for patients with COVID-19 and to protect vulnerable people. In addition, it aims to strengthen the provision of reliable public health information on the COVID-19 outbreak and protection measures to the people involved in the response, as well as to the general population.
Japan's $2.7 million contribution will be available for nine months and work will begin immediately, said Dr. Ciro Ugarte, who heads PAHO's Department of Health Emergencies.
"We thank the Government of Japan for helping our countries to combat the serious challenges they face due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will allow them to strengthen their preparedness and response operations to save lives and protect the most vulnerable people, including health workers, as well as help them reduce transmission of the virus among people, in an effort to curb the spread of the disease, "said Ugarte.
Japan's donation will contribute the US $ 94.8 million needed to support the countries and territories of the Americas through August 2020 in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The response strategy has two main objectives: to stop the transmission of the virus and to mitigate the health impact of COVID-19 in the region.
PAHO, as the specialized health agency in the Americas and the Regional Office of the World Health Organization, provides leadership, coordination, and assistance to combat the spread of COVID-19, save lives, and protect the most vulnerable people in the 52 countries and territories of the Americas.