Photo credit: EMTV
As part of the American Rescue Plan Act, the US government announced $3.8 million in urgent COVID-19 assistance for PNG through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
This assistance will assist in accelerating widespread and equitable access to and delivery of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, strengthening health systems, and supporting other public health measures to combat COVID-19 and the recent emergence of the Delta variant in PNG.
“PNG is struggling to address the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic within its communities,” US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu Erin McKee said.
She stated that the American people's support demonstrates their long-term collaboration and commitment to working together to address the tremendous global health issue.
“With this assistance, the US government, through USAID, has provided more than $9.2 million to address COVID-19 in PNG.
“USAID assistance has helped the country implement internationally recognised infection prevention and control strategies, strengthen laboratory systems, case management and surveillance tracking and communicate effectively about COVID-19 prevention and care.
Additionally, the United States has already contributed $2 billion as part of its $4 billion pledge, to support COVAX — a global effort to provide safe and effective vaccines for 92 countries, including Papua New Guinea,” she said.
The country has already received 580,400 vaccine doses from the COVAX Facility, including 302,400 Johnson & Johnson vaccines given directly by the US government, according to Ambassador Mckee.
She stated that the United States is committed to working with Papua New Guinea and other Pacific Island countries to stop the COVID-19 epidemic, alleviate its terrible social and economic effects, and rebuild a world that is better prepared for future outbreaks.
“These efforts build on decades of lifesaving work and US leadership in tackling global health crisis.
“For the past 60 years since its founding in 1961, USAID has saved millions of lives from diseases such as Ebola, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and now, COVID-19,” she said.
Reference: Post-Courier (21 September 2021). “US Provides Extra US$3.8M For COVID-19 In PNG”.
