Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Kingdom of Eswatini is set to receive about E91 million to support existing COVID-19 vaccination plans and help get vaccines to people quickly and equitably.
This comes after Eswatini was announced as one of 11 countries to receive surge support through the United States (US) Initiative for Global Vaccine Access (Global VAX), a US governmental effort to turn vaccines in vials into vaccinations in arms around the world. The announcement was made by the US Ambassador to Eswatini Jeanne Maloney on Monday.
The ambassador stated that the money includes US$5 million (approximately E76 million) that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) plans to programme, and an additional $1 million (E15 million) that the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will contribute, in addition to support from technical experts.
“Given the progress Eswatini has already made, more than 300 000 people are fully vaccinated and the potential to make significant additional progress, we are pleased to surge more resources to help rapidly increase vaccination rates,” said Maloney.
Partnerships
She added by saying, “The Initiative for Global Vaccine Access, or Global VAX, builds on long-standing health partnerships forged in the fight against HIV through the US President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programme. Just as Eswatini is a world leader in tackling the HIV pandemic, we know that the kingdom will show the same resolve and unity of purpose to end COVID-19.” Ambassador Maloney announced the surge support alongside Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi and Peace Corps CEO Carol Spahn on the campus of the US Government’s partner, The Luke Commission.
In Eswatini, the Ministry of Health has fully vaccinated over one third of emaSwati, supported by 450 000 doses given by the US Government. It was mentioned that the US was committed to leading the global COVID-19 response because it was the right thing to do and would make both Americans and emaSwati safer. “We are proud to work with the Kingdom of Eswatini to end this pandemic and build back a better world,” said the ambassador.
The ambassador recounted how, two years ago, the lives of people around the world completely changed and how Minister Nkosi on March 12, 2020 announced the first COVID-19 case in Eswatini. She said since then, nearly 1 400 emaSwati have had COVID-19. “Despite these devastating losses, we’ve also seen the best of humanity emerge in the wake of this pandemic,, around the world and here in Eswatini, nurses and doctors worked around the clock, manning emergency wards and comforting the families of loved ones battling COVID-19. The Government of Eswatini took swift and effective action from the early moments of the pandemic to respond and keep people safe and informed throughout the crisis.
During our response to COVID-19, we were continually reminded that we are one interconnected global community, and it will take all of us working together to end the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. She highlighted that the US Government was not only committed to ending COVID-19 on its shores, but was also committed to working with partners around the globe to bring the pandemic under control.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
