The US Government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing over $5m in urgent Coronavirus assistance for Egypt in cooperation with the Ministry of International Cooperation and the Ministry of Health and Population. This assistance will support health workers administering vaccines and strengthen the supply chain of vaccines to ensure equitable access throughout Egypt. The funding will also strengthen the ability of Egypt's health system to prevent, detect, and respond to the Coronavirus and future public health threats. "This additional $5m in Coronavirus support reaffirms the US Government's commitment to support Egypt through the global health crisis," said US Ambassador Jonathan R. Cohen. "The United States and Egypt have been working side-by-side to fight Coronavirus. At the outset of the pandemic, Egypt sent medical supplies to the United States. And last week, I was pleased to welcome the arrival of 1.6 million Pfizer vaccine doses." "Committed to recovery, the Government of Egypt is utilizing international cooperation with bilateral and multilateral development partners to respond to the challenging repercussions posed by the pandemic. Egypt's cooperation with the United States has supported the country's national agenda, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, namely in the health, education and gender sectors," said Rania Al-Mashat, the Minister of International Cooperation, commenting on the additional US commitment of $5m for urgent COVID-19 assistance. "I'd like to thank the United States Government for their support and long-standing cooperation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We appreciate international solidarity during this time of crisis. Last week, we graciously received the first shipment of Pfizer vaccine donations from the US through COVAX, which will help Egyptians stay healthy during this difficult time. USAID and the Ministry of Health and Population have a long history of cooperation in the health sector, and I look forward to further cooperation in the years to come," said Hala Zayed, Minister of Health and Population. The US Government, through USAID, has now provided more than $55m in Coronavirus assistance to Egypt since the pandemic began, already reaching nearly 18 million people with needed health and economic support. USAID programs train health care workers, improve tracking of and response to the pandemic, provide food assistance to families affected by the pandemic, and support small businesses. This support builds on more than $1bn in US government investment over the past 40 years to improve the health of all Egyptians.
