The United States has announced an additional US$8.5 million COVID-19 emergency response funding to combat the disease and to support the Nepalese people.
As per the press statement issued on April 30, this funding was announced by the United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as the number of COVID-19 cases surge pushing Nepal into another challenging time.
“The additional assistance will help intensify the Government of Nepal (GoN)’s COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and case investigation, treatment, infection prevention and control, border control, and other work at the federal, provincial and municipal levels,” the statement reads.
- This funding is expected to scale up the response at the community level, supporting the most vulnerable people
- The assistance also includes support for households and families through life-saving COVID-19 counseling and referrals, nutrition counseling and healthcare access
- Additionally, it aims to ensure the continuity of critical HIV services and to mitigate the secondary impacts of COVID-19 in Nepal
- The United States has contributed US$2 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to support the purchase and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines for 92 low and middle income countries
- To support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for the world’s most vulnerable populations, the United States plans to commit another US$2 billion by 2022
- The American Rescue Plan provides approximately US$11 billion to USAID and the Department of State to fight the pandemic and to respond to urgent humanitarian needs
- USAID is working closely with the World Health Organization, governments, NGOs and the private sector to fight COVID-19 so as to ensure countries have strong health systems
- Similarly, it is supporting virtual education via mass media and online classes in more than 50 countries
- USAID has also delivered food to more than 4.7 million people across the world
It is significant that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the USA has stood with the Nepalese people and GoN in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. Considering the pandemic to be one of the biggest health challenges the world has ever faced, USAID has provided billions of dollars to fight COVID-19 in more than 120 countries including Nepal.
USAID’s response addresses multiple sectors and the support is tailored to each country’s needs and includes emergency relief, the strengthening of health systems, supporting vaccine readiness and distribution, improving public health education and protecting healthcare workers and facilities.
