By Neo Kolane
Lesotho’s key development partners have contributed immensely to the COVAX Facility and have supported the country.
The US Government recently contributed $2billion to the COVAX facility. As the largest donor to COVAX, the US government is committed to supporting the international COVID-19 response, which is critical to ending this pandemic.
“Over the last year, the United States government has moved swiftly to support the local response to control the spread of COVID-19,” said US Ambassador Rebecca Gonzales.
“We will continue to support the vaccine rollout with trusted implementing partners and the ministry of health,” Gonzales added.
The European Union has made a €1 billion contribution to the COVAX Facility.
The EU and its member states have been one of the leading contributors to COVAX with over €2.2billion. Through these contributions, the EU and its partners have secured purchase options for COVID-19 vaccines for all the participants in the COVAX Facility.
“The EU is committed to ensuring that everyone who needs a vaccine gets it,” said EU Ambassador to Lesotho Christian Manahl.
“Because we will only be safe if the whole world is safe. We are in a race against the virus and COVAX is our best hope that all our partners, in Africa and elsewhere, have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines,” Manahl stated.
“The UK is delighted to see vaccines arriving “on the ground,” in Lesotho, said British High Commissionerto Lesotho, Anne Macro.
“This is testament to the hard work of the Lesotho government, ministry of health, and its partners in the UN and NGO sector in undertaking all the necessary advance preparations,” Marco said.
