Mauritania Receives Valuable COVID-19 Relief Funds From U.S.

By ADF Last updated Mar 16, 2022

U.S. and Mauritanian officials announce a U.S. donation of $620,000 to support Mauritania’s efforts to combat COVID-19. U.S. EMBASSY IN MAURITANIA

ADF STAFF

The U.S. government on February 17 provided $620,000 to strengthen Mauritania’s ability to respond to health threats.

The money will be used to improve epidemiological surveillance through the technical training of health workers.

“As was the case in 2016, when we started our first partnership for field epidemiology training, the urgency is there,” Cynthia Kierscht, the United States ambassador to Mauritania, said. “In 2016, it was the fear of Ebola that mobilized Mauritania and the international community. Today, it is the challenge of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic that we must meet, together.”

The support came a little over a month after the nation tightened restrictions amid a rise in COVID-19 cases. The ministerial committee in charge of monitoring the development of the coronavirus in Mauritania banned all public gatherings and ordered theaters closed. Wearing masks was also made mandatory in public places.

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani tested positive for COVID-19 on January 3. Ghazouani experienced mild symptoms and tested negative for the virus on January 9. Cases driven by the omicron variant have gradually decreased in Mauritania since mid-January.

“On this happy occasion, the President of the Republic expresses his gratitude to the presidents and leaders of brotherly and friendly countries for the feeling of solidarity and compassion they have shown toward him,” Ghazouani’s office said in a statement. “He is also grateful to the national medical staff, political party leaders and opinion leaders.”

In June 2020, the U.S. government delivered 3,000 viral transportation media (VTMs) to Mauritania. VTMs are a crucial component of the COVID-19 testing process and strengthened the country’s capacity to identify patients and safely transport patient samples.

“The procurement of these VTMs is a further testament to the strong partnership we have with the Ministry of Health and other partners active in the nation’s COVID-19 response,” said Michael Dodman, then U.S. ambassador to Mauritania. “These VTMs complement the U.S. government’s other efforts in the area of infection prevention and control within Mauritania.”

COVID-19’s effects in Mauritania were exacerbated by an influx of refugees fleeing violence in neighboring Mali. The United Nations has offered assistance to nearly 70,000 Malian refugees in southeast Mauritania and to more than 10,500 refugees and asylum seekers in Nouakchott, the capital city, and Nouadhibou, the nation’s second-largest city.

Amid its efforts to control COVID-19, Mauritania also plays a key role in combating extremism in the region. Since 2018, the U.S. government has delivered $15 million worth of equipment and training to Mauritania’s battalion in the G5 Sahel Joint Force. In December 2021, the U.S. donated vehicles, a field hospital, and Soldier and communications equipment to bolster the Joint Force.