July 23, 2021 (MANDERA, Kenya): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), yesterday handed over one Ambulance to the Government of Kenya, Ministry of Health for Mandera County during an official ceremony held at the Mandera County Headquarters.
The event was graced by the Executive Secretary (ES) for IGAD, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the Governor for Mandera County, H.E Capt Ali Roba, the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) for Health of Kenya, Hon Dr. Rashid Aman, the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Kenya. Also in attendance were H.E Meles Alem, Kenya Country Representative of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, and the IGAD Head of Mission for the Republic of Kenya participated.
The donation of the ambulance is part of the EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response project intended to mitigate impact of COVID-19 in the IGAD region.
“I am delighted on behalf of the IGAD Secretariat to join hands with the Republic of Kenya, the County Government of Mandera and the Communities at this confluence of Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia as we strike another blow against the social and economic effects of Covid-19’, said the Executive Secretary in his remarks. “The Ambulance we are delivering today to the people of Mandera County is in fulfilment of the promise we made as part of the consignment of 25,000 N95 masks, 25,000 surgical masks, 125,000 gloves and 2,500 COVID-19 test kits that have already been distributed”, he continued.
Dr Workneh recalled that IGAD had supported “displaced and cross-border communities with over 5 million medical masks, 1 million COVID-19 test kits, 4 million surgical gloves, 21 Ambulances, Utility Vehicles and Mobile Laboratories that have been distributed across 21 Cross-Border sites, 7 Refugee Camps and IDP settlements as well as 4 Migrant Reception Centers.
He also expressed appreciation to the European Union, the Swiss Development Cooperation, UNOPS and FAO for their support.
In February 2021, various assortment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Laboratory test kits for COVID-19 (25,056 tests), two standard ambulances, one advanced ambulance and a mobile laboratory worth 1.9 million Euros were donated to the Republic of Kenya.
A mobile laboratory is expected in the country at a later date and will be handed over to the respective priority cross border site in the country. The third ambulance under the EU-IGAD COVID-19 response project will be handed over to the Turkana County at a later date. They will be put in use at cross-border areas.
The European Union allocated a 60 million Euros package to help tackle the health and socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in support of IGAD region in its mandate to coordinate national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is part of the Team Europe Global Response package (EU and its member states) to support partner countries intervention to the pandemic and its consequences.
The project focuses on vulnerable groups, including migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, and cross-border communities, including more than euro 13 million worth of medical supplies and equipment.
Main activities under the EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response project package include the provision of health responses, WASH services, prevention of gender-based violence and risk communication. The project also helps ensure borders and critical supply chains so as they are safe for trade. Through the component managed by GIZ, it promotes also digital solutions to monitor the crisis. The project aims to support more than 1 million people across the region.
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