The United States has committed $95 million to help contain the spread of COVID19 in Jamaica.
The announcement was made in a statement this afternoon by United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Donald Tapia.
The money is to go towards Jamaica’s emergency response.
Ambassador Tapia says the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, intends to provide the funds to meet the COVID-19 response needs of the Government of Jamaica.
He says USAID is coordinating with the government, international humanitarian partners, and other stakeholders to identify priority areas for investment.
Ambassador Tapia says to date, the government has done a commendable job in addressing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
He says these funds will directly support emergency response activities that are vital for helping to flatten the curve in Jamaica.
USAID is to use the funds to seek opportunities to support case management to strengthen clinical care while minimizing the risk of transmission to others.
It’s also to be used for infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities, laboratory strengthening and communications to help educate people on steps they can take to prevent and respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
Ambassador Tapia says this assistance builds upon investments of nearly 87-million US dollars in health and nearly 618-million US dollars in total over the past 20 years for Jamaica.
He says because an infectious disease threat anywhere can be a threat everywhere, the United States calls on other donors to contribute to the global effort to combat COVID-19.
