Today, the U.S. government—through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)—announced $4 million U.S. dollars in urgent COVID-19 assistance for Papua New Guinea as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
This emergency funding will support the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) as they battle the recent surge in COVID-19 cases due to the deadly Delta variant. Support includes the procurement of critical commodities to support oxygen delivery and clinical care, and provision of training and wraparound technical assistance to ensure the prompt distribution and use of the oxygen across PNG’s health facilities.
“The Government of Papua New Guinea has had to respond to dynamic and uncertain challenges as this devastating pandemic evolves,” said U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu Erin E. McKee. “This additional funding is an example of the United States’—and the American people’s—commitment to providing quick and agile support when and where our partners need it the most.”
With this additional assistance, the U.S. government, through USAID and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), has provided more than $16 million U.S. dollars to address COVID-19 in PNG. USAID support has helped the country implement internationally recognized infection prevention and control strategies, strengthen laboratory systems, case management, and surveillance tracking, and communicate effectively about COVID-19 prevention and care.
Additionally, the U.S. is the largest vaccine donor in the world, recently marking the major milestone of 200 million COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered worldwide to more than 100 countries and territories. PNG has received 302,400 Johnson & Johnson vaccines donated by the U.S. government through the COVAX Facility—a global initiative to provide safe and effective vaccines—to which the U.S. is the largest donor.
The U.S. is committed to partnering with PNG and other Pacific Island countries to end the COVID-19 pandemic, mitigate its devastating social and economic impacts, and build back a world that is even better prepared for future outbreaks.
Earlier this month, USAID observed its anniversary, marking 60 years of development partnerships globally. USAID has worked hand in hand with the Government of Papua New Guinea since its founding to tackle pressing issues such as climate change, economic development, energy, good governance, disaster risk reduction, and health challenges such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and COVID-19.
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In Papua New Guinea, USAID focuses on combating COVID-19, public health, climate change, biodiversity, good governance, economic growth, energy, infrastructure, disaster risk reduction, and digital connectivity. Read more here: https://www.usaid.gov/pacific-islands.
