ADDIS ABABA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Heads of state of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have adopted a regional approach for the battle against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, which is ravaging nations across the globe.
The IGAD heads of state and government on Monday convened a video conference, whereby they have deliberated on the regional IGAD strategy to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the region, according to a statement from the East African bloc on Tuesday.
The heads of state have also commended the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group for the generous donation to the African continent of medical supplies used in the fight against COVID-19.
As the chair of the IGAD assembly, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok of Sudan noted that the coronavirus represented a profound threat to the IGAD region.
It would significantly impact on the economies of the IGAD region and roll back gains made toward realizing the Sustainable Development Goals in the region, he said.
Stating that the virus is a threat shared by all humanity and it does not recognize international borders, the IGAD chair has emphasized on IGAD member states developing a collective and coordinated strategy to combat COVID-19 and other diseases for the region.
Underlining the need for a collective regional strategy to combat COVID-19, the IGAD Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, called for the establishment of an IGAD regional emergency fund for the control of pandemic diseases as well as for the strengthening of health systems in the region.
The IGAD Heads of State and Government submitted detailed reports on the status of coronavirus infections, fatalities and recoveries in their respective countries, as well as the measures they are undertaking to combat the menace.
They have also recognized and appreciated the efforts of the Chair, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and that of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia to mobilize support from the international community, particularly the generous donation to the African continent of protective equipment and testing kits by Jack Ma and Alibaba.
The IGAD Executive Secretary has proposed five broad measures that would form the basis of the regional response strategy and further enable the IGAD region to efficiently and effectively respond to the threat of the coronavirus.
The Executive Secretary noted that the IGAD region lay between the hammer and the anvil having barely recovered from the first round of the worst desert locust invasion in 25 years and bracing for a second invasion that would have devastating consequences for food security and livelihoods in the IGAD region.
At the extraordinary summit, the IGAD Heads of State and Government held deliberations on the agenda and resolved to, among others, formulate an IGAD regional response strategy to pandemic diseases particularly COVID-19, and IGAD Ministers of Health and Finance shall meet virtually to inform the strategy.
They have also resolved to establish an IGAD Emergency Fund for the control of pandemic diseases and the strengthening of health systems in the region; mobilize support from the international community to combat COVID-19, strengthen national health systems and build local manufacturing capacity for medical equipment and supplies to fight pandemic diseases; ask international financial institutions to cancel the debts of IGAD member states in order to free up resources to fight the coronavirus; and mobilize support from IGAD medical professionals in the diaspora.
