ADDIS ABABA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government has decided to establish a continental anti-COVID-19 fund to be used in the battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak in Africa.
A recent teleconference of the Bureau of AU heads of state and government, which President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Arica convened in his capacity as Chairperson of AU, has agreed for immediate contribution of 12.5 million U.S. dollars as seed funding, according to an AU statement on Saturday.
The Bureau has urged the AU member states, the international community and philanthropic entities to contribute to the Fund.
Noted the critical role of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and its under-funding, the member states of the Bureau have agreed to contribute an amount of 4.5 million dollars towards boosting the capacity of the Africa CDC.
The Bureau has expressed concern about the possible shortages of medicines and vaccines as factories close or countries retain supplies for their own consumption.
In this regard, the Bureau underscored the vital importance of coordinating efforts to increase global production and improve the availability of medical products and equipment.
Given the limited health infrastructure in Africa and the reality that most of the pharmaceuticals and medical supplies consumed on the continent are imported, the Bureau has called on the international community to encourage open trade corridors, especially for pharmaceuticals and other health supplies.
The Bureau has urged the G20 to immediately provide African countries with medical equipment, testing kits, protective gear to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, the Bureau has urged G20 countries to provide an effective economic stimulus package that includes relief and deferred payments.
In this regard, the Bureau has called for the waiver of all interest payments on bilateral and multilateral debt, and the possible extension of the waiver to the medium term, in order to provide immediate fiscal space and liquidity to governments.
The Bureau has also urged the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank and other regional institutions to use all the instruments available in their arsenal to help mitigate against the scourge and provide relief to vital sectors of African economies and communities.
