Kigali: The Swiss cooperation has launched a regional response program to the COVID-19 pandemic with a total amount of 6 million Swiss francs (6.2 million USD) for the three countries of the Great lakes region, Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo. The Swiss cooperation’s action is designed to be quick, flexible, efficient and complementary.
Implemented in Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo through United Nations agencies, the new regional program provides direct support to national response plans to COVID 19. It also includes contributions to non-governmental partners engaged in the prevention work at the community level and the safeguarding of basic health services.
The program is centered on epidemiological surveillance, infection prevention and control, as well as communication and community engagement. A focus is put on vulnerable groups. The latter are most affected by the response measures put in place by governments as their economic and social resilience is limited.
To ensure the success of the program, Switzerland will engage in a close dialogue with governments and development partners to ensure good coordination of the response and complementary of the Swiss support. Modalities of support will be adapted towards country specificities in the region. The national plans for preparing and responding to the COVID-19 epidemic of the three countries are the reference frameworks for Switzerland’s contribution.
Switzerland stands true in solidarity and reacts quickly to the challenge of the global COVID-19 crisis. It is currently implementing actions in many countries to mitigate the economic and social consequences of the pandemic, having allocated 101.42 million Swiss francs to the global fight against COVID-19. On April 29th, 2020, the Swiss Federal Council decided that Switzerland will contribute 400 million Swiss francs to international actions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, particularly in developing countries. (End)