USAID provides $ 3.2m to Egypt’s Red Crescent over COVID-19

31 / 05 / 2020

By Marwa Nassar - -

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) decided to extend $3.2 million to the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) to alleviate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Egypt.

This funding will support ERC’s network of 30,000 volunteers and health professionals to conduct community outreach and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as build ERC’s capacity to respond to future crises.

US Ambassador Jonathan Cohen stated, “As the entire world battles coronavirus, the United States felt it important to provide special, targeted support to Egypt to fight this pandemic. This support from the American people will assist tens of thousands of Egyptian healthcare professionals and volunteers respond to COVID-19, and reach millions of Egyptians.”

Minister of International Cooperation Dr. Rania El Mashat said all parties, including civil society, are working together to address the health and economic challenges caused by COVID-19.

“Through USAID support, the ERC will implement pandemic prevention and preparedness activities. We are collaborating closely with all partners to address the country’s development priorities,” Mashat added.

Dr. Nivine El-Kabbag, Minister of Social Solidarity and Deputy Chairperson of ERC, said “We are proud of our cooperation with USAID to support the constant efforts exerted by the Egyptian Red Crescent. I want to stress that cooperation with USAID will have a major impact in the development of ERC’s services and its access to a larger number of beneficiaries.”

USAID assistance will specifically support the distribution of hygiene kits and supplement ERC’s mobile resource centers to expand awareness of safe hygiene practices and provide initial fever screenings. To ensure that volunteers are quickly sent where they are most needed and that ERC maintains coordination and communication with its volunteers, USAID will help strengthen its command and control capabilities through technical equipment upgrades.

USAID will also assist ERC to provide psycho-social support services to health workers so that they can continue to serve the Egyptian public.

Over the past 40 years, the United States through USAID has invested over one billion dollars in strengthening Egypt’s health systems by working in partnership with the Egyptian people to improve maternal and child health and nutrition, eliminate infectious diseases, and educate and mobilize community health workers to deliver home-based health information and services.