US assistance of USD 1.3 million to protect Sri Lanka’s healthcare workers and improve COVID-19 tracking and testing

The United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed $1.3 million USD to help protect healthcare workers and slow the spread of the virus with infection prevention and control support, US Embassy in Colombo said.
 

“Through even the most difficult times, Americans and Sri Lankans support one another as partners and friends,” said U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz.  “This donation reflects our enduring relationship, resilient even in the face of this global pandemic.  As in the past, we are proud to provide critical support to help Sri Lanka combat COVID-19.”
 

Funding will provide Sri Lanka support to activate case finding and event-based surveillance, technical experts for response and preparedness, risk communication, infection prevention and control, and more. Additionally, the United States will help prepare Sri Lankan laboratory systems for large-scale COVID-19 testing.  The United States is coordinating with the Government of Sri Lanka, and other stakeholders to identify additional priority areas for assistance.  
 

For more than 60 years, the United States has worked to ensure Sri Lankans are healthy and resilient through times of health and disaster-related crises.  Assistance has helped eliminate malaria; saved thousands of lives during the dengue epidemic through state-of-the-art equipment; and supported individuals to know their HIV status as well as other HIV-related innovations.