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ECOWAS COMMUNIQUE N° 02 OF 6 APRIL 2020 ON THE FIGHT AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE
ECOWAS CONTINUES TO SUPPORT MEMBER STATES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 2019 (COVID-19)
1. ECOWAS continues to closely monitor the evolution of the Coronavirus pandemic in
the world and particularly in West Africa. As of 5 April 2020, the 15 Member States are
affected by the pandemic with 1 739 confirmed cases of contamination, 55 deaths and
328 persons who have fully recovered. It should be noted that approximately 95% of
deaths are patients with comorbid conditions.
2. In light of the spread of the pandemic, ECOWAS Commission reaffirms its solidarity
with Member States and welcomes all the measures already taken to contain the
spread of the pandemic and care for the sick. It remains committed to supporting
Member States in the fight against this pandemic. In this regard, the West African
Health Organisation (WAHO), its specialised health Institution responsible for
coordinating the response at the regional level, has drawn up a Regional Strategic Plan
with all Member States.
3. Thus, to address the emergency at hand, ECOWAS has immediately made available
financial support from its own resources, in addition to assistance from international
partners, for the purchase of medical supplies and equipment essential for the fight
against the pandemic.
4. WAHO has already purchased and dispatched to the 15 Member States:
– 30 500 diagnostic test kits;
– 10 000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Coveralls, Aprons, gowns, gloves,
goggles, boots);
– 740 000 prescription tablets (Chloroquine and Azithromycin);
5. Orders have been placed to acquire for Member States, the following items:
– 240,000 diagnostic kits;
– 240,000 extraction kits;
– 250,000 viral sample transport equipment;
– 285,100 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
– 268,1000 masks for medical personnel (face masks, surgical masks, full face
masks);
– 120 ventilators;
– Several thousand litres of alcohol gel and disinfectants.
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ECOWAS communique n° 02 of 6 April 2020 on the fight against the coronavirus disease
6. WAHO is also working, in close collaboration with the specialised services in Member
States, to deploy personnel and epidemiological surveillance and data collection tools,
strengthen the capacity of reference laboratories and train technical personnel.
7. ECOWAS and its Institution, WAHO, continue both internal and external resource
mobilisation, with a view to increasing the availability of medical materials and equipment
necessary to prevent, monitor and combat this pandemic. This will expand its scope of support
to supplement Member States’ own efforts.
8. In addition, ECOWAS is working to complement its intervention as part of a Short and
Medium Term State Assistance Plan (humanitarian assistance and support for economic
recovery).
9. This is the place to thank all our partners with whom we work, for their financial and
technical support to the Community in these difficult times.
10. The ECOWAS Commission is taking this opportunity to urge people to continue to
implement the measures recommended by the Health Authorities, and to comply with the
prescribed hygiene guidelines.
Together, we will win the fight against COVID-19.
Long live ECOWAS! Long live ECOWAS Member States!
H.E. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou
President, ECOWAS Commission
6 April 2020