The World Health Organization has set up a COVID-19 Solidarity Fund to help countries across the world respond to the crisis.
Citizens and businesses across the world have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Fund has been launched in partnership with the United Nations Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation and aims to draw together donations from corporations, private individuals, and institutions from all over the world to help with the response to the pandemic.
So far, the fund has already received support from major global corporations such as Google and Facebook.
COVID-19 Solidarity Fund
Donations raised will go towards the WHO’s COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan which aims to ‘limit human-to-human transmission; identify, isolate, and care for patients early; identify and reduce transmission from the animal source; communicate critical risk and event information; and, minimise social and economic impact through multisectoral partnerships.’ The plan also aims at addressing ‘crucial unknowns’ such as the extent of transmission, treatment options, and the acceleration of diagnostics development and vaccines.
With a focus on the countries most at risk, such as those with weaker health systems, the fund aims to accelerate detection of COVID-19 cases and stop the virus.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: “We are at a critical point in the global response to COVID-19 – we need everyone to get involved in this massive effort to keep the world safe.
“We are immensely grateful to the UN Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation for coming forward to help us set up this fund. A lot of people and institutions have been saying they want to contribute to the fight against the novel coronavirus. Now they can.”
Global solutions to a global problem
The fund is seeking to scale up the public health response to the pandemic across the globe, which includes seeking donations to finance personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers who are at highest risk of contracting the COVID-19 infection, as well as equipping diagnostics laboratories, establishing new intensive care units, and accelerating COVID-19 research.
It will also be supporting supply chains across the globe and improving surveillance and data collection to help understand the spread of the virus.
UN Foundation President and CEO, Elizabeth Cousens, said: “We can’t ignore the fact that this is a truly global problem – one that requires truly global solutions.
“The case for global co-operation could not be clearer – communities everywhere are affected, and people want to contribute. This new fund will create space for people everywhere, together, to fight this virus.”
Public service announcement
In an effort to ramp up better health practises in response to the virus the WHO has also teamed up with film production company Illumination – creators of ‘Despicable Me’ – to deliver a public service announcement on good health and hygiene practice.
The Hollywood studio has teamed up with the WHO to create the educational public service announcement for audiences across the globe and will be delivered in a number of different languages.
The announcement covers health practices that could potentially be lifesaving and will reduce the spread of transmission. It also emphasises the importance of social distancing and staying active.
Speaking of the video announcement, which features Gru and his Minions from the ‘Despicable Me’ film, Illumination Founder and CEO Chris Meledandri, said: “Storytelling is a powerful tool to accelerate positive social change in the world. It is an honour to partner with the WHO and UN Foundation to remind people around the globe to protect themselves, each other, and our communities during this pandemic.”
Anyone who would like to find out more, or donate to the fund can visit www.COVID19ResponseFund.org.
