A one-year USD1.5 million partnership to support seven governments in the Pacific in their COVID-19 preparedness plans was today committed by UNICEF and the United States Government.

The assistance through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced will be used to support governments of Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Marshall Islands, with their preparedness and response plans for COVID-19.

The United States Chargé d'Affaires, Tony Greubel, said the United States was proud to be a partner to governments across the Pacific, including the Ministry of Health in Fiji, to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

“Strong partnerships and collaboration are critical in our efforts to stop the spread of this virus. This is a unique moment in history, and it requires leadership. We will continue to do all we can to build a world that is safer and more secure against the threat of infectious disease.”

This partnership will support the readiness, delivery, and post-delivery monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines in these Pacific island countries as well as supporting training on the effective management of the vaccines.

UNICEF, through this funding, will provide technical support to and work closely with the ministries of health to strengthen immunisation campaigns and develop effective public health messaging through several platforms to reach people with life-saving information and address misinformation or rumours surrounding vaccines.

Additional support will also be provided to track progress, results, as well as the impacts of the programs supported through this partnership. Children and their communities in every corner of the world are at risk from this pandemic, said UNICEF Pacific Representative, Sheldon Yett. 

“We thank the United States Government for its continued and strengthened partnership with UNICEF to ensure that Pacific island countries are able to mount an effective public health response to this crisis.”

This partnership is expected to play a key part in supporting the ongoing planning and recovery activities in the seven Pacific Island countries, and strengthen national capacity and resilience of healthcare systems, families, and communities to cope with COVID-19 and the transmission risks.