This United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, says the American government has supported Nigeria’s efforts to contain the COVID-19 global pandemic with $33m.
She added that globally, the United States had donated about $2bn to nations in the global efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
She also announced her country’s plans to deepen its support and collaboration with Nigeria.
Leonard spoke on a radio programme, Lagos Talks, 91.3FM on Wednesday morning.
The ambassador noted that the US had been supporting Nigeria’s healthcare system in the last 20 years, stressing that its assistance was not only limited to COVID-19 response.
“We have given Nigeria over $33m so far in her ongoing fight against COVID-19 response.
“We are also finding areas in which we can further collaborate. We are looking at peer review of patients’ management and care. “We really have a very broad and deep cooperation currently ongoing. It’s been over 20 years that the US government has been supporting Nigeria’s health sector. “Many American companies in Nigeria are also assisting with their resources and supply in the fight,” she said.
Continuing, Ambassador Leonard said, “The US private sector and US based- international non governmental organisations have been generous with their resources in contributing to Nigeria’s response as well. “Globally, the US is also supporting the fight against COVID-19 and has spent over $2bn so far.”
Recall that the US President, Donald Trump, had, on April 28, in a telephone conversation with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), promised to send ventilators to Nigeria to help in the management of the pandemic.
The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said the phone conversation had been at the behest of the American President.
The US Ambassador called for effective communication in the ongoing fight against the contagion, urging Nigerians to take responsibility by observing the stipulated guidelines for their own safety, that of their neighbours and that of the country at large.
