This archive report was first published on 21 May 2020.
On May 20, 2020, the UK government announced a significant donation to the Africa Covid-19 Fund, committing Ksh2.6 billion ($26 million) to support the continent's efforts in combating the effects of Covid-19.
The funds, to be channelled through the African Union, will be used to train health professionals in member states to handle pandemics, strengthen global tracking of the pandemic, and combat misinformation.
According to the UK government, the money will also be used to make information more accessible, create awareness through weekly virtual meetings for African clinicians, publish technical guidelines in AU languages, and convene AU member states to agree on a continental response to the virus.
Ms Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the UK International Development Secretary, said the funding is part of global efforts to help stop infections from rising.
“No one is safe until we all are safe, and this new funding and support for African leadership will help protect us all from further spread of the virus,” she said in a statement.
The UK's donation is the highest amount deposited into the Africa Covid-19 Fund, which was established by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in April with an initial funding of $12.5 million.
