WHO to support to Pakistan COVID-19 response with £2.67 million in funding from the UK  

WHO extends support to Pakistan against Corona Virus. Therefore, World Health Organization (WHO) in Pakistan will be supporting the Government of Pakistan’s response to COVID-19. Thus, it supports with £2.67 million (approximately US$3.29) worth of funding to scale-up the current response.

WHO Representative

“WHO has been working closely with the Government of Pakistan to prepare and respond to the growing threat of COVID-19. We would like to thank DFID for this generous support. It will go a long way to strengthen the current response and save lives,” says WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Palitha Mahipala.   

Overall ,the funding package will be used in 27 districts across all five provinces of Pakistan. It will assist WHO in providing technical, operational and logistical support to the Government of Pakistan. It will also include existing response coordination mechanisms at federal and provincial levels. The funds will also help strengthen the country’s capacity to; identify and diagnose cases of COVID-19. It will include managing cases of COVID-19 within health care settings through effective infection, prevention and control measures. Further, it will increase community participation in stopping the spread of COVID-19. It will also enhance citizen’s access to reliable information so that they can learn how to protect themselves and others. This funding also incorporates Gaps in healthcare facilities and provisions of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).

British High Commissioner

The British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Dr Christian Turner CMG said; “These are extraordinary times. Across the world millions of people are being affected by COVID-19; I am confident in Pakistan’s resilience and capability to defeat this pandemic. I am announcing UK health support of £2.67m to help the Government of Pakistan detect COVID-19. It involves protecting communities and assist those most affected. We are also looking to re-purpose other UK aid work in Pakistan of up to £100 million. It will help protect the most vulnerable people of Pakistan with economic relief and social security packages. We count on our friends at difficult times; although we are socially distancing, we are coming together. UK and Pakistan enjoy the very best of international friendship; we will beat this together.”

Official Website of WHO: https://www.who.int/

To date, WHO has been supporting Pakistan by strengthening COVID-19 response initiatives in collaboration with healthcare providers across the country. This includes trainings of health care providers on contact tracing and case definitions for suspected and confirmed cases, case management and infection, prevention and control measures. WHO has also assisted in the distribution of personal protective equipment to health facilities and assisted in the distribution of Information, Education and Communications (IEC) materials to raise public awareness on COVID-19 and counter any rumours and misinformation.