Dominica is billed to receive foreign aids from the United States and the European Union to fight coronavirus on the island. The US embassy in Barbados announced that Dominica and 60 other countries will receive US$6 million to eliminate COVID-19 in their territories, while the EU will also provide a grant of US$8.6 million to Caribbean nations to fight the disease.
The US grant will be used to purchase test kits and necessary medical supplies for additional COVID-19 testing. The aid is part of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) response for calls to assist with fighting the pandemic on a global level. The agency uses nuclear-based systems to detect and diagnose viral diseases when there is an epidemic.
As it stands, IAEA member states have pledged over US$10 million to assist countries affected by the pandemic, including the US$6 million from the United States. With the fund, countries within and outside the Caribbean will equip their laboratories withwith diagnostic machines, PCR test kits, lab consumables, and protective gear among other biosafety supplies.
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) will also be in a position to implement the fund to increase detection, surveillance, prevention, control, and response to the COVID-19 disease.
This article is copyright © 2020 DOM767
