Japan Contributes $1.6 Mln to UNICEF’s COVID-19 Response in Egypt

The Japanese government has contributed nearly $1.6 million to support UNICEF’s COVID-19 emergency response to keep children and their families safe and to support frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This generous support was part of the discussions that took place today between Japan's Ambassador of Japan to Egypt Masaki Noke and UNICEF Representative in Egypt Jeremy Hopkins.

Overall the program will protect nearly 1.3 million people who come into contact with healthcare workers through the distribution of PPE, in addition to reaching 150,000 people with advice on how to reduce the risk of contracting the virus, training for 1,000 healthcare workers on infection prevention, and control, and ensuring continued access to primary healthcare services such as immunization, prenatal and postnatal care, HIV care and GBV response.

Through the support of the Japanese government, UNICEF will also support 6,000 children with home-based and distance learning opportunities to ensure continuity of education.

“During this unprecedented global emergency, it is critical for UNICEF to prevent and control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. We thank the Government of Japan for their continuous support. Their generous contribution will help us address the spread of COVID-19 and save lives”, Hopkins said.

[caption id="attachment_153646" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Ambassador Noke and Hopkins[/caption]

“In the midst of this unprecedented human security crisis, we need to take an inclusive approach based on the philosophy of human security, which focuses on the protection and empowerment of each person without leaving nobody behind," Noke noted.

"This assistance not only enhances the capability of frontline healthcare workers in dealing with COVID-19, but also provides support for the most vulnerable such as women and children who are more susceptible to its secondary impacts. School closures and a loss of income due to the pandemic are affecting mental health of women and children, their access to essential health services, and children’s access to education among others. Japan will continue to closely work with the government of Egypt and UNICEF.” the ambassador added.

With this support, UNICEF has so far procured and delivered personal protective equipment (PPE) to several hospitals and health care units across the country.

The PPE delivered includes 1.9 million gloves, and around one million surgical masks to equip and protect around one million healthcare workers and their patients.

UNICEF has also supported the efforts led by the Ministry of Health and Population to provide online training for more than 550 healthcare professionals tackling infection prevention and control through the project.

UNICEF is also responding with partners to misinformation, promoting awareness, and healthy hygiene practices among communities. Toward that end, UNICEF has identified and trained youth volunteers to curb COVID-19 community transmission and to promptly respond to false information.