Africa-Press – Mauritius. The collaboration between the European Union (EU) and Mauritius in the fight against the COVID-19 as well as other emerging communicable diseases, was marked by a ceremony organised at the Dr A. G. Jeetoo Hospital in Port-Louis this morning.
The Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal, the Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union, Mr Vincent Degert, the Senior Chief Executive of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Mrs Anandi Rye Seewooruthun, and other personalities were present.
In a statement, Minister Jagutpal underlined that the support of friendly countries and the EU has been crucial to combat the pandemic. He indicated that in December 2020, Mauritius received around Rs 372 million from the EU in the context of the framework Reinforcing Health Systems in Mauritius (REHSIMUS).
The REHSIMUS support has led into the acquisition of 17 ICU beds, 450 000 masks, 12 Ultra Cold Chain freezers, 65 laptops and doubled the capacity of PCR tests, he added.
The Minister recalled that the EU recommended the development of protocols and guidelines before proceeding with the second disbursement, and that same has been realised.
As regards Monkeypox, Dr Jagutpal said that his Ministry has put in place a management plan to monitor the situation adding that procedures are ongoing for the acquisition of 1 000 vaccines for the virus.
He further indicated that a control team has been set up in each regional hospital to fight emerging communicable diseases and infections. A total of 1 343 health personnel have been trained with the support programme of the EU, he pointed out.
Minister Jagutpal observed that Mauritius is the second country in Africa with the highest vaccinated coverage. The objectives set following the outbreak of the crisis, he said, have been largely attained with the support of the EU.
He lauded the EU for their unflinching support in the fight against the COVID-19 as well as all stakeholders in particular the health services for the remarkable work accomplished in controling the pandemic.
For his part, Ambassador Degert said that the EU has responded promptly by extending its support to the Government of Mauritius to further strengthen the public health systems and combat the virus.
This, he indicated, was possible through a health budget support programme of 7.8 million Euros, adding that a first disbursement of 3.9 million Euros, that is, about Rs 186 million, was effected in December 2020.
He also listed out the different assistance provided by the EU ranging from COVID-19 testing capacity, ICU beds, training of health personnel on infection control, dissemination of guidelines for major communicable diseases, and the strengthening epidemiological surveillance in the region.
He also added that the EU since 2021 is providing support to a regional programme for epidemiological surveillance and investigation to better manage epidemics such as covid, dengue, chikungunya and foot and mouth disease in the region.
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