The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Senegal, Lena Savelli, on Tuesday in Dakar pleaded for the establishment of a joint action plan to fight the coronavirus (Covid- 19) on the African continent, after six countries confirmed cases of the virus.
By Abdourahmane Diallo
“We have no doubt that by pooling our efforts, we will succeed in providing an effective response to this pandemic that threatens us and this response must necessarily involve the development of an effective joint preparedness and response plan, which involves all regional and continental partners,” she said.
Speaking at a meeting to coordinate and plan partners as it prepares the African region to tackle the disease, the UN official stressed the need to “pool our efforts and energies to provide an effective, coherent and reassuring response to Covid-19, which is threatening a pandemic on the world.”
On this basis, she called on all governments to intensify their efforts and do their utmost to contain the disease, without stigmatization and with respect for human rights.
Furthermore, Savelli stressed that this fight should be based on “correct and factual communication” on Covid-19, as well as on actions in terms of preparedness, prevention and response.
Presiding over the opening of the meeting, the Senegalese Minister of Health and Social Action, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, suggested that the response must not only be “a national, but African dynamic.”
Moreover, he recommended that Africa “must have a concerted and harmonized approach to better combat the scourge.”
Sounding reassuring over the measures taken to combat the disease in Senegal, Mr. Sarr said President Macky Sall has instructed his colleague from Finance and Budget to ensure that the budget dedicated to the fight against the disease is quickly put in place.
Estimated at more than one billion CFA francs, it must be implemented under extremely rapid procedural conditions, taking into account the urgency, the minister said.
ARD/te/lb/as/APA