The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Workneh Gebeyehu, organised a video teleconference for the Ministers of Health of the Member States meant to follow up on the recommendations by the IGAD Heads of State and Government Summit on COVID-19 held on March 30, and decide on actions to be taken in a collective and collaborative manner so as to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate the impact of the outbreak in the region.
It is in this respect that the Deputy Minister of Health of Sudan Sarah Abdelazem Hassana, chaired the video teleconference meeting which brought together Mohamed Warsama Dirieh-Minister of Health of Djibouti, the Minister of Health of Kenya Mutahi Kagwe, the Minister of Health of Somalia Fowsiya Nur, the Minister of Health of South Sudan Elizabeth Acuei Yor, and the State Minister of Health for Primary Care of Uganda Joyce Moriku.
On the basis of the guiding principle that ‘no country is safe until every country is safe’, the Ministers discussed ways and means to operationalise the outcomes of the IGAD Summit of March 30, including the development of an IGAD Regional Response Strategy for COVID-19, the establishment of an Emergency Fund for COVID-19 and other disease outbreaks; and the strengthening the national response systems.
The Deputy Minister of Health of Sudan appreciated ‘the swift action taken by all the IGAD Heads of State and Government to contain and combat the spread of the Corona Virus’. On behalf of the Minister of Health of Sudan and Chair of the IGAD Health Ministerial Committee,

The European Investment Bank Group, the bank of the European Union, today announced details of a comprehensive response to the coronavirus pandemic outside the EU that will provide up to € 5.2 billion in the coming months. This financing is part of the Team Europe response and supported by guarantees from the EU budget. It will both strengthen urgent health investment and accelerate long-standing support for private sector investment that reflects financing needs in more than 100 countries around the world.
“The European Investment Bank is committed to Africa and is reinforcing support for Africa to better tackle the impact of the coronavirus at this crucial time. Following feedback with partners, stakeholders and clients across Africa the EIB is finalising plans to out new coronavirus support to both ensure that African business can cope with economic shocks and public sector partners can continue to support crucial health investment in the coming weeks and months. The EIB stands by Africa and will work closely with African governments, international partners and business to address the new economic and social challenges posed by the coronavirus together.” said Ambroise Fayolle, European Investment Bank Vice President responsible for development.
The immediate fast-tracked support will help to sustain jobs and livelihoods in sectors most threatened by the economic and social impact of the coronavirus, and will be followed by additional long-term health and business financing as needed.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is already hitting many countries and will have profound economic consequences around the world. Many people will lose their jobs and livelihoods. Especially in vulnerable countries this crisis will destroy entrepreneurial networks and exacerbate existing debt distress. We urgently need to show that Europe is there for our partners when they need us. As part of Team Europe, the EU Bank will in the coming weeks identify and support new health and business investment outside the European Union. We will work in close partnership with the European Commission, EU member states, European development finance institutions and other multilateral financial institutions to ensure that public and private partners can better access finance essential to cope with the pandemic shock”, said Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank.