TOGO – The World Bank has approved US$8.1 million in financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to help Togo combat COVID-19 (coronavirus) and better respond to public health emergencies.
The COVID-19 Emergency Response Project will help the Government of Togo strengthen epidemiological surveillance, early detection, and confirmation of cases. It has just stepped up the work underway in the context of the Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement (REDISSE) Project.
The project will expand screening and patient care capacity by building the capacity of personnel involved in the response effort, strengthening the surveillance capacity of laboratories, and facilitating the procurement of personal protective equipment and medical equipment, including resuscitation equipment.
This operation will certainly bolster Togo’s capacity to respond to this pandemic
“COVID-19 is placing a heavy burden on hospital and outpatient health services, which are on the front lines. The needs remain great, despite the work already done by the government and its partners. This operation will certainly bolster Togo’s capacity to respond to this pandemic,” said Hawa Wague, Resident Representative for the World Bank in Togo.
Meanwhile, the France goveernment has promised to back Togo’s Covid-19 response with €3 million (US$3.26m). The funds should be part of the European nation’s support to Africa, relative to the pandemic’s impacts on health, people, economies, and even debt.
The news was announced by President Emmanuel Macron himself along with congratulations to his Togolese counterpart, Faure Gnassingbé, on the sidelines of the 60th independence day anniversary of Togo.
The money promised will, among others, help Togo acquire lab equipment and better monitor and take care of the Covid-19 patients.
According to Macron, “the French Development Agency (AFD) and other operators will remain focused on other priorities falling under the Togo-France partnership, concerning basic social services especially.”
