US govt pours $37 million funding to assist Philippines, high priority countries vs. COVID-19

The United States government has earmarked $37 million worth of financial aid to help high priority countries, including the Philippines, to address the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

In a statement, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) said such funding is sourced from USAID’s Emergency Reserve Fund for Contagious Infectious Diseases.

The $37 million, USAID said, will be provided to the World Health Organization (WHO), other multilateral institutions, and programs led by USAID's implementing partners.

Specifically, funds allocated for WHO will be used to help the governments of currently affected or at-risk developing countries prepare their laboratories for large-scale testing for COVID-19, implement a public-health emergency plan for points of entry, activate case-finding and event-based surveillance for influenza-like illnesses, train and equip rapid-response teams, investigate cases and trace the contacts of infected persons, and adapt training materials for health workers on COVID-19.

On the other hand, funds that are going through a broad range of other partners will support the following six broad areas of work:

• laboratory-strengthening;
• surveillance for and rapid response to, infectious diseases;
• risk-communications and engagement with communities;
• public-health screening at points of entry; the prevention and control of infections in health facilities; and
• management of cases of COVID-19

“These are the first US government funds committed from the pledge of up to $100 million announced by the US Department of State on February 7. Because an infectious-disease threat anywhere can be a threat everywhere, we call on other donors to contribute to the effort to combat COVID-19 as well,” the USAID said.

Aside from the Philippines, other high priority countries identified by the USAID include: Afghanistan, Angola, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Africa, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Zambia,Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kyrgyztan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Earlier, USAID and other private sector entities have responded to requests from the governments of affected countries for donations from the US’ emergency international stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) which include goggles, gowns, face shields/masks, and gloves, among others.  

As of March 4, there have been three cases of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines. These patients are all Chinese citizens.

Of the three confirmed COVID-19 cases, one patient, a 44-year old male, died. There are 32 patients awaiting the results of tests which will determine if they are positive of COVID-19 or otherwise. — AOL/RSJ, GMA News