The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Project Services ( UNOPS) in Cameroon signed on 23 July 2020, a tripartite agreement worth respectively $13.8 million and $9.1 million with the Government of Cameroon and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to strengthen the health system and the COVID-19 response plan in the country.
Financing from the Islamic Development Bank is part of a comprehensive agreement worth $27.440 million signed between the Government of the Republic of Cameroon and the Islamic Development Bank, to provide immediate response to COVID-19 by procuring vital medical and non-medical equipment including Scanners, respiratory equipment, ambulances, mobile radios for communications, reanimation and hospital beds, PPEs and further strengthen the health system in Cameroon. The medical and non-medical supplies will lift up efforts of the frontline heath workers, improve testing capacity and early detection; and, support the management of COVID-19 cases.
“This support is part of a «no regret» approach that will strengthen Cameroon’s health systems in a sustainable and comprehensive manner. I am grateful that UNDP Cameroon, in partnership with the Government and the Islamic Development Bank were able to mobilize additional resources to scale up Cameroon’s National COVID-19 Response Plan to fight the pandemic”, said the Resident Representative of UNDP Cameroon, Jean Luc Stalon.
“UNOPS is committed to contributing to the strengthening of the health system in Cameroon through transparent and efficient procurement, as part of our 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda.”, saidMs Tatiana Wah, Director and Representative of UNOPS in Central Africa
“Beyond the response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) which has greatly stressed our health professionals, this partnership is an opportunity to further strengthen Cameroon’s health system in the face of future resurgence of epidemics and pandemics in Cameroon”, Dr. MANAOUDA Malachie, Minister of Public Health said.
UNDP has supported procurement of medical and non-medical supplies, therefore strengthening the logistics chain of the Ministry of Health to support health centers throughout the territory.With UNDP assistance, an assessment of COVID-19 economic impacts on households, SMEs and local councils has enabled the Government to fine-tune and contextualize its COVID-19 Response and Preparedness Plan and will serve as basis for local economy recovery.
Hence, supporting the resilience and recovery of small businesses in Cameroon. To mitigate pandemic effects on the populations, protective and sanitary materials, in-kind food assistance and Cash Transfer were provided to the most vulnerable (youth of primary and secondary schools, university students, People with disabilities, sex workers, prisoners, Internally Displaced Peoples in conflict-affected areas). In the same vein, an inter-municipal platform for reporting, information monitoring and experience sharing on COVID 19 is under operationalization.
To date, Cameroon has over 17,255 positive cases of COVID-19, 15,320 cured and 387 deaths.
