Inter-governmental Authority on Development or IGAD Ministers of Health after video teleconference meeting on Wednesday called for action to combat COVID-19 in the region.
They endorsed Regional Response Plan to combat the pandemic and establish a taskforce to coordinate and monitor the reply to COVID-19 and similar outbreaks.
The ministers tasked the IGAD Secretariat to operate regional Emergency Fund for COVID-19 and other disease outbreaks.
Sudanese Deputy Minister of Health Sarah Abdel Azim Hassan who chaired the meeting appreciated ‘the swift action taken by all the IGAD Heads of State to contain and combat the spread of the corona virus.
She expressed Sudan commitment to mobilize domestic resources in the struggle against the Corona Virus.
Sarah urged the IGAD Secretariat to expedite the process of dispatching response teams across member states and to facilitate coordinated partnership.
IGAD Executive Secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu called for protection against the pandemic for vulnerable populations such IDPs, refugees and migrants in the region.
IGAD Ministers of Finance video teleconference meeting followed on Thursday to look into the regional emergency fund for disease control and prevention.