The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided $1.7 million to help Belarus respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This assistance is helping prepare laboratory systems, activate case-finding and event-based surveillance, support technical experts for response and preparedness, and bolster risk communications. Medical and technical experts are helping Belarus to prepare for COVID-19 cases, communicating accurate public health information to the public, and supporting community engagement activities with a particular focus on infection prevention and control, including the provision of medical supplies and ensuring access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in COVID-19 designated health care facilities, social service centers, and other government facilities.

USAID is supporting media campaigns to inform citizens on how they can help stop the spread of the virus. In addition, USAID is helping to mitigate the secondary effects of the pandemic by supporting social and mental health support to front-line workers and other social service activities.

We are also expanding our work to stop trafficking in persons to ensure vulnerable groups have access to vital public health information, including the design and distribution of COVID-19 prevention advice and healthcare service leaflets. Given the increased demand for migration and trafficking in persons advice services caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, USAID is strengthening its support to the safe migration hotline.