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WHO and EIB Enhance Cooperation to Support Countries in Addressing COVID-19

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are strengthening their partnership to support countries in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. The first phase of the partnership will focus on enhancing primary health care in ten African countries, with a focus on strengthening health workforces, infrastructure, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. The partnership aims to scale up financing for essential supplies, including personal protective equipment, diagnostics, and clinical management.

Key Takeaways:

  • The WHO and EIB will collaborate to strengthen public health, supply of essential equipment, training, and hygiene investment in countries most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The partnership will increase resilience to reduce the health and social impact of future health emergencies.
  • The WHO and EIB will work together to improve access to essential supplies, including medical equipment and training, and deliver better water, sanitation, and hygiene where most needed.
  • The partnership will also address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and improve the effectiveness of malaria treatment.
  • The EIB has committed to providing a 1.4 billion EUR response to address the health, social, and economic impact of COVID-19 in Africa.
  • The partnership is expected to strengthen the resilience of national public health systems and enhance preparedness against future pandemics.

Statistics:

  • 1.4 billion EUR: EIB's planned response to address the health, social, and economic impact of COVID-19 in Africa.
  • 5.2 billion EUR: EIB's global response to COVID-19 outside the European Union.
  • 1 billion EUR: Estimated cost needed to provide medium-term solutions to antimicrobial resistance.
  • 250 million EUR: Public-private initiative to address market failures holding back more effective malaria treatment (EU Malaria Fund).
  • 20 projects: EIB is currently assessing projects in vaccine development, diagnostic, and treatment.
  • 2 billion EUR: Annually provided by the EIB for health care and life science investment.
  • 700 million EUR: Potential investments in vaccine development, diagnostic, and treatment.

Sources:

  • WHO and the European Investment Bank enhance cooperation to support countries in addressing the health impact of COVID-19 (Source: WHO press release)
  • Background information on the European Investment Bank (Source: EIB website)
  • WHO's goal for 2019-2023 to ensure universal health coverage, protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide better health and wellbeing for a billion more people (Source: WHO website)

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