HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani announced Saturday that the State of Qatar has pledged $10mn to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to support the funding of testing equipment, treatment, and vaccine for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). This is in addition to the $20mn contribution to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) that Qatar pledged earlier this month.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said, during his participation in a Covid-19 commitments campaign held through video conference by non-profit organisation Global Citizen, that the State of Qatar was proud to support 'Global Goal: Unite for Our Future' campaign.
HE the minister expressed Qatar's thanks to the European Commission and to Global Citizen for partnering in the campaign.
HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the novel coronavirus pandemic was not just testing the healthcare systems, educational systems, and economies around the world, but also testing human principles and the ability to respond quickly by showing solidarity across borders.
HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani added that the scaling up of international support and political commitment was needed now, more than ever, to ensure access to Covid-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines for all.
On June 4, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani had pledged $20mn in support of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI).
Speaking during a video conference of the Global Vaccine Summit 2020 held in London on the day, His Highness the Amir also called upon the international community to work jointly to ensure fairness in providing necessary medicines and medical equipment to all countries.
The Amir had further reiterated Qatar's support to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its co-ordinating efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic and to promote global readiness to confront infectious diseases in the future.
"The Covid-19 pandemic constitutes an unprecedented challenge and threat to all humanity at all levels. In the absence of an effective vaccine or cure, some countries and societies have found themselves faced with the choice between two options both of which are bitter to swallow: either to seek prevention by lockdowns that may cripple the economy, or put the lives of people at risk by opting not to sacrifice the economy.
"Some countries have chosen compromising solutions by combining continuing to coexist with the pandemic and fighting it at the same time," the Amir had said.
Qatar has provided medical assistance to more than 20 countries around the world in terms of supplies of medical equipment and construction of field hospitals, in addition to providing $140mn worth of financial contribution for multilateral healthcare institutions working to develop vaccines and ensuring the efficiency of healthcare, especially in the least developed countries.
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