Rockefeller’s Foundation has earmarked $1bn for the Africa Public Health Foundation to assist in the fight against the Coronavirus Disease and to drive a more inclusive and sustainable global recovery.
The foundation stated this on Wednesday while announcing an initial commitment of $34.95m, which would be used to ensure more equitable access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines in the country.
The fund will also help to leverage innovation, data, machine learning, combat the escalating food crisis and scale up access to renewable energy in Africa, the statement explained.
It read in part, “The announcement comes 100 days after the Foundation’s landmark commitment of $1bn over three years to help end COVID-19 and drive a more inclusive and sustainable global recovery.
“The largest portion of the pan-African commitment goes to the Africa Public Health Foundation to support the Africa Centres for Disease Control.
“With this initial round of funding, we are beginning to deliver on our billion dollar pledge to help end the pandemic in Africa and for us all, while investing in wealth-building opportunities for those who have been shut out of economic progress and are bearing the brunt of this pandemic.”
Commenting on the development, Managing Director and Head of Rockefeller’s Africa Regional Office, William Asiko, said, “A significant portion of this funding will benefit the Africa CDC’s effort to accelerate testing and tracing in several countries across the continent. These efforts will allow governments at national and subnational levels to make informed policy decisions about lifting restrictions on movement, thereby re-opening economic activity.”
