The United Kingdom has pledged to contribute up to £20m to the newly-created ‘African Union COVID-19 Response Fund’ to help tackle the spread of coronavirus disease in the continent.
According to a release by the Department for International Development, the contribution will support the implementation of AU’s continental strategy to coordinate the efforts of member states and multilateral and international partners in responding to the outbreak on the continent while also promoting an evidence-based approach for surveillance, diagnoses, treatment and control of the pandemic.
International Department Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, who announced the funding, disclosed that supporting Africa would help protect everyone from the continued spread of the virus.
She said, “As the UK faces its biggest peacetime challenge in tackling the coronavirus, it’s never been more important to work with our partners in Africa to fight the disease.
“No one is safe until we are all safe, and this new funding and support for African leadership will help protect us all – in the UK, Africa and around the world – from further spread of the virus.”
The contribution, which brings the UK’s total aid towards combating the pandemic to £764m pounds, makes her the largest national donor to the fund.
