EU donates millions in support against Covid-19

The European Union in its bid to support Namibia in his fight against the Covid-19-pandemic availed an additional budget amounting to N$172 million (€8,4 million) to inter alia strengthen the country’s health system and enhance resilient and responsive health and social protection systems.

This will also include the purchasing of medical equipment and medical devices that are urgently required, as well as addressing some of the economic and social impact of the pandemic.

Furthermore and as part of an ongoing programme in support of education and with UNICEF as the implementing partner, contingency reserves of N$72, million (€350 000 million) would be used to support children and their families, specifically those in communities that are hardest hit by the Covid-19 lockdown.

The aim is to reach approximately 350 Early Childhood Centres (ECDs) with an estimated 15,000 children registered.

The EU in a statement says the Covid-19 crisis has brought about new threats, demands and challenges to educators and learners. Moreover education systems and models need to gradually transform to move to online learning strategies. According to the EU education is a focal area of its support to Namibia.

The EU has made, as part of the EDF 11, a third and final payment of N$95 million (€4,64 million) to the Education Budget Support Programme recently. This assistance is not directly related to the pandemic; but states the union, “these are difficult times and government may utilize these resources to deal with the effects of the pandemic”.

“The coronavirus pandemic requires united and strong international and local collaboration by all. The European Union is doing everything we can to support our citizens and our partner countries in their time of need to address the impact of this health crisis on lives and countries’ economy. We are working closely with EU member states, other development partners and the UN system to make sure our inputs are well coordinated for the pandemic and for the SDGs more generally,” said EU Ambassador to Namibia, Sinikka Antila.

On behalf of the Namibian government and in appreciation of the support from the European Union, Netumbo Nandi - Ndaitwah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation hailed the long-standing cooperation with the EU, which has continued to complement the government’s developmental efforts.

“Multilateralism dictates that all governments come together in the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals in order to save lives. The areas of focus of the assistance of the EU speak to the current priorities of government. The government commends the dedicated efforts of the EU office in Windhoek and look forward to continue working with the EU Ambassador for mutual interests,” Nandi-Ndaitwah says.

President Hage Geingob on 17 March stated that the health of all Namibians is first priority and subsequently declared a State of Emergency.

Urgent and determined measures followed and which included a country lockdown to contain the spread of the novel Corona Virus into communities.

As Covid-19 is not only a threat to the lives of the Namibian people and the public health system, it also bears serious negative economic impacts, thus threatening the survival of businesses and consequently jobs and livelihoods.

President Geingob made an appeal to all international cooperating partners and stakeholders as well as the private sector to support the government’s response measures and to mobilize resources to combat the further spread of the virus.