The United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced an additional USD 2.5 million in urgent COVID-19 assistance for Sri Lanka.
This assistance will accelerate equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccinations and strengthen the ability of health workers to address COVID-19.
“The U.S. is working hand in hand with partners at the community, provincial, and national levels to address COVID-19,” said Reed Aeschliman, USAID Mission Director for Sri Lanka and Maldives.
He further said that this additional donation will bolster health systems, support health care workers, and improve access to vaccinations.
The USD 2.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds will strengthen the oxygen ecosystem in Sri Lanka, provide personal protective equipment kits for infection control in health facilities, and build the resilience of health care workers.
The Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka will also use the assistance to coordinate vaccine distribution, provide cold chain support for the Pfizer vaccine, and strengthen the ability of staff to administer vaccine programmes.
USAID has contributed USD 17.9 million to Sri Lanka since the pandemic first broke out in March 2020.
