The U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is allocating an additional $9.9 million to assist Pacific Island countries in their response to COVID-19. This brings the total USAID support for the region to nearly $12.2 million. USAID has also allocated $3.5 million specifically for Papua New Guinea's COVID-19 efforts, while overall U.S. Government assistance to all Pacific Island nations for COVID-19 has surpassed $45.8 million.
This latest financial support will allow USAID to collaborate with 12 Pacific Island countries, including the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The aim is to enhance the capacity of civil society organizations in combating misinformation and safeguarding the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups.
Grants will also be provided to private sector and civil society partners to carry out community and national-level initiatives that enhance partner countries' resilience and ability to address the economic and social impacts of COVID-19. The U.S. Government is working with Pacific Island governments and coordinating with like-minded regional partners to align its assistance with regional health sector and humanitarian responses.
This funding supports USAID's ongoing efforts in helping governments prepare laboratory systems, activate case-finding and event-based surveillance, and provide technical expertise for COVID-19 response and preparedness. USAID will also focus on improving risk communication, strengthening infection prevention and control in health facilities, as well as enhancing logistics and coordination.
"The Federated States of Micronesia is fortunate that there are no confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease in the country," said U.S. Ambassador to FSM Carmen G. Cantor. "But it is important to rapidly scale up preparedness and response efforts to prepare for this looming threat." She added that continued collaboration with local and international partners would better protect the people of this country against the disease.
Globally, the United States continues its leadership role against the COVID-19 pandemic by investing over $900 million in emergency health, humanitarian aid, economic support, and development assistance thus far.
In a broader context over two decades, the United States has invested more than $5.21 billion in aid to the Pacific Islands region; within just ten years alone, over $620 million has been dedicated specifically towards health initiatives in these areas.
For further details on USAID’s COVID-19 response activities: https://www.usaid.gov/coronavirus