EU Allocates EUR 43 Million To Algeria In Its Struggle Against COVID-19

The European Union and the United Nations Development Program announced, Wednesday, that they will assist the health sector in Algeria by allocating 43 million euros (DZD 69 million) to confront COVID-19 and limit its effects, while the UN Covax program will provide Algeria with 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

A statement by the Office of the United Nations Development Program in Algeria, which copy was received by Echorouk, said that the Ministry of Health, the European Union Commission and the United Nations Development Program started the implementation of a financing agreement worth 43 million euros (50 million US dollars) intended to support the Algerian government’s efforts to contain the spread of the Covid-19 across the country and mitigating its effects.

“This project, called “European Solidarity Response Against Covid-19 in Algeria”, aims to equip public health facilities in Algeria with medical equipment and early detection equipment, and to acquire protective equipment for the benefit of health sector employees and staff.

After the start of the financing project, the Minister of Health, Population and Hospital Reform, Abderrahman Benbouzid said, “We appreciate this valuable European initiative and solidarity towards Algeria. This is an important support for our health system, and for the efforts made by public authorities for several months to contain the spread of this global epidemic and mitigate its Multiple consequences”.

Meanwhile, the European Union’s ambassador to Algeria, Dr John O’Rourke, expressed his satisfaction at the launch of this project, saying; “This solidarity initiative is a sign of friendship between Algeria and the European countries. It provides tangible material support for medical personnel and patients affected by the Covid-19 and we’ll be stronger together against the pandemic”.

For her part, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program in Algeria, Mrs Blerta Aliko, welcomed the confidence that the Algerian government and the European Union have placed in the United Nations system in general and in the United Nations Development Program in particular, to be entrusted with the task of implementing this important agreement within the framework of the strategic partnership that binds them.

“The United Nations Development Program is responsible for implementing a comprehensive and integrated response of the United Nations system, using an approach that provides holistic and multi-subject preparedness-response-recovery solutions that take into account all the challenges associated with this pandemic”, Mrs Blerta Aliko added.

The statement indicated that, as of Wednesday, 400,000 detection equipment and 20,000 PCR examinations, and two detection machines, were received, in addition to training more than 3,000 practitioners in the public health sector from frames, doctors, nurses, technicians, for the implementation of an awareness campaign in partnership with the civil society.

“Algeria will benefit from 2.2 million doses of the vaccine against Corona from the UN Covax program”, it added.