“Our response now far surpasses that initial pledge. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the U.S. government has committed nearly US$500 million in assistance to date,” the US government said in a statement, made available to The Voice in Banjul by its Embassy, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the funding will improve public health education, protect healthcare facilities, and increase laboratory, disease-surveillance, and rapid-response capacity in more than 60 of the world’s most at risk countries – all in an effort to help contain outbreaks before they reach our shores.
America funds nearly 40% of the world’s global health assistance programs, adding up to US$140 billion in investments in the past 20 years – five times more than the next largest donor, the statement said.
The statement revealed that, since 2009, American taxpayers have generously funded more than US$100 billion in health assistance and nearly US$70 billion in humanitarian assistance globally.
The U S government said through that assistance, including as the single largest contributor to the World Health Organization’s budget, the United States stands shoulder to shoulder with the people and government of The Gambia as “we face – together – the threat this virus poses”.
“I and my team at the U.S. Embassy will continue our work to coordinate assistance with other donor countries and organizations, to support the truly heroic work being done by Gambians from Kartong in the West Coast Region to Koina Upper River Region of The Gambia. United, together, we will defeat COVID-19,” said U S ambassador to The Gambia, Richard Carlton Paschal III.
He added: “Our help is much more than money and supplies. It’s the experts we have deployed worldwide, and those still conducting tutorials today via teleconference. It’s the doctors and public-health professionals trained, thanks to U.S. money and educational institutions. And it’s the supply chains that we keep open and moving for U.S. companies producing and distributing high-quality critical medical supplies around the world.”
He said the US government is helping the world, revealing that American businesses, NGOs, and faith-based organizations have given at least US$1.5 billion to fight the pandemic overseas.
He further disclosed that American companies are innovating new technologies for vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and ventilators, adding that this is American exceptionalism at its finest.
“As we have time and time again, the United States will aid others during their time of greatest need. The COVID-19 pandemic is no different. We will continue to help countries build resilient health care systems that can prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Just as the U.S. has made the world more healthy, peaceful, and prosperous for generations, so will we lead in defeating our shared pandemic enemy, and rising stronger in its wake,” he said.
Ambassador Paschal III said: “We are proud that when these international organizations deliver food, medicines, and other aid all around the world, that too is largely thanks to the generosity of the American people, in partnership with donor nations.”
He pointed out that US continues to be the single largest health and humanitarian donor for both long-term development and capacity building efforts with partners, and emergency response efforts in the face of recurrent crises.
He also said this money has saved lives, protected people who are most vulnerable to disease, built health institutions, and promoted the stability of communities and nations.