The Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened a Video Conference to deliberate on the regional IGAD strategy to combat the spread of the CoronaVirus (COVID-19) in the region.
In his remarks the IGAD Chair Prime Minister Hamdok of Sudan, noted that the Coronavirus represented a profound threat to the IGAD region. He added that it would significantly impact on the economies of the IGAD region and roll back gains made towards realizing the Sustainable Development Goals in the region. The IGAD Chair said that the virus was a threat shared by all humanity and noted that it does not recognise international borders. As a result, the IGAD Chair laid emphasis on IGAD Member States developing a collective and coordinated strategy to combat COVID-19 and other pandemic diseases for the region.
The Executive Secretary of IGAD made his opening statement, reinforcing on the need for a collective regional strategy to combat COVID-19 in the IGAD region and calling for the establishment of an IGAD regional emergency fund for the control of pandemic diseases as well as for the strengthening of health systems in the region. The IGAD Heads of State and Government submitted detailed reports on the status of coronavirus infections, fatalities and recoveries in their respective countries, as well as the measures they are undertaking to combat the menace.