Coronavirus: WHO, European Investment Bank pair up to help African countries after US funding cut
- Move follows freeze in funding from largest contributor to World Health Organisation over allegations that it is too deferential to China
- WHO’s director general repeats defence that warning in January gave the world enough time to respond to the pandemic
Officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and European Investment Bank (EIB) announced a new partnership on Friday to boost financing to 10 African countries in order to bolster their preparedness against the coronavirus pandemic.
The WHO’s pairing with the European Union’s bank follows a freeze in funding last month from the global health body’s largest contributor – the US – over allegations that it is too deferential to China. Health experts warned at the time that Washington’s move would hit the world’s poorest countries hardest.
The financing initiative, unveiled at a briefing in Geneva, will focus on protecting the chain of essential supplies – including personal protective equipment and diagnostics – as well as training, water security, sanitation and hygiene.
“Combining the public health experience of the World Health Organisation and the financial expertise of the European Investment Bank will contribute to a more effective response to Covid-19 and other pressing health challenges,” said WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Tedros did not make an explicit link between the EIB partnership and financing problems created by the loss of US funding.
