EGYPT – The Government of Egypt has secured around US$500 million from several development partners and multilateral institutions to enhance the capacity of the country’s health sector, Minister of International Cooperation, Rania Al Mashat has revealed.

Al Mashat noted that the ministry has been keen on strengthening international collaboration to support the country’s national efforts and fight the pandemic, both in short term for crisis response and in long-term to ensure an inclusive and sustainable recovery.

Al-Mashat further revealed that the funds were dedicated towards the provision of protective equipment, supplies for medical teams and isolation hospitals, and also for strengthening the capacity of the Egyptian Red Crescent.

Some of the funds would also be used in training medical personnel as well as improving public awareness of the crisis, Al-Mashat revealed.

Al Mashat stated that the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a fund of $400 million to be implemented in six Egyptian governorates.

The funds will be used to strengthen UHIS-related governance and institutions and provide temporary financial protection against high out of pocket health expenditures for vulnerable populations.

She also signed an agreement with the World Bank Group worth $50 million as part of the Emergency Response Project to combat the Covid-19 Pandemic for the Ministry of Health and Population.

The Ministry also succeeded in reallocating $7.9 million to combat the COVID-19 within the framework of a major agreement signed with the World Bank worth 530 million euros to develop the health sector in Egypt.

On the same note, Al-Mashat amended an agreement with the French Development Agency for the primary health care project with an amount of $17 million, to purchase medical and protective equipment.

According to Al-Mashat, Egypt also received a number of medical supplies donation from the United States, China, and India.

The Country also received a number of grants from various development partners including Korea (US$400,000), Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, (US$3.2 million), Canada (US$500,000), AfDB (US$500,00) and UNICEF (7.74 million).

The Ministry of International Cooperation also launched the “Kamama” initiative, which was a successful model for cooperation among different stakeholders in society.

It aimed to both empower and protect women in Upper Egypt through providing them with job opportunities in the production of masks.

Al Mashat revealed that currently, the ministry is working to finalize the procedures for obtaining a grant from the Japanese government, amounting $9.3 million.

Funds from the grant will be used to supply medical equipment and supplies for the benefit of hospitals in a number of Egyptian governorates, in addition to providing technical support and necessary training for medical personnel.

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