African Development Bank funds COVID-19 research projects in Angola



African Development Bank Group has committed to pay $1.04 million in support of two Corona virus pandemic research projects in Angola, which aim to contribute to the country’s economic diversification through scientific and technological research, and by promoting an innovative enabling environment.

During the virtual signing ceremony organized by the Angolan Ministry of Higher Education, Science Technology and Innovation on 20th July, The Epidemiological, Clinical and Laboratory Profile of COVID-19 and the Building COVID Capacity research projects received $431,590 and $613,029 respectively.

The research projects include the participation of reference research entities from Brazil, Portugal, Sweden and UK and are being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to African Development Bank Country Manager, Joseph Ribeiro who virtually attended the ceremony, the results of the scientific research will contribute to the construction of new knowledge about the virus while strengthening national capacity on staff training and availability of laboratory equipment for the health sector.

He also commended the Government of Angola for its well-articulated efforts toward combating and mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted the significant participation of women researchers in the coordination and composition of the project teams, which is in line with the objectives of the Bank-financed projects.

Angola so far has 812 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 33 deaths, according to data compiled by the US-based John Hopkins University.

Photo courtesy / Google

Article by Jedidah Mwangi

https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/african-development-bank-commits-104-million-towards-two-covid-19-research-projects-angola-36981

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