World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a press conference in Geneva. FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP
The World Health Organization on Wednesday called for $675 million (613 million euros) in donations for a plan to fight the novel coronavirus, mainly through investment in countries considered particularly “at risk”.
“Today we’re launching a strategic preparedness and response plan…. We’re requesting $675 million to fund the plan for the next three months,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a news conference in Geneva.
“Our message to the international community is invest today or pay more later,” Tedros said, adding that the funding appeal was “much less than the bill we will have to pay if we do not invest in preparedness now”.
Tedros said $60 million of the funds would be for WHO operations while the remainder would go to countries requiring assistance to guard against the deadly virus.
He said WHO was sending 500,000 masks and 40,000 respirators to 24 countries from its warehouses in Dubai and Accra.
Tedros also hailed a $100 million donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced earlier on Wednesday for virus testing, treatment and vaccine research.
Asked about Britain’s call for its nationals to leave China, Tedros said: “That blanket approach may not help. We encourage all countries to make decisions based on evidence.”
He said an international expert mission being organised by WHO would be leaving for China “very, very soon”.
Tiwa Savage The 2020 Soundcity MVP Award Festival has just come to an end, and it saw many of our favourites picking up an award or two. The event which was held at the Eko Convention Center, Lagos Nigeria, was hosted by South Africa’s finest media personality Bonang Matheba was the host of the event. See the full list of 2020 Soundcity MVP Award Festival 2020 winners below. Best New MVP FireBoy DML ( NG ) JoeBoy ( NG ) Marioo ( TZ ) Rema (NG) – Winner Simmy ( SA ) Wendy Shay ( GH ) Best Collaboration Blow My Mind – Davido [ NG ] Daz How Star Do – Skibii [ NG ] Gugulethu – Prince Kaybee [SA] – Winner Jama – DJ Mic Smith [ GH ] Killin Dem – Burna Boy [ NG ] Inama – Diamond PlatNumz [ TZ ] Best Pop Innos B [ CG ] Nandy [ TZ ] JoeBoy [NG] – Winner Otile Brown [ KE ] Kizz Daniel [ NG ] Teni [ NG ] Mayorkun [ NG ] Rayvanny [ TZ ] Naira Marley [ NG ] Best Hip Hop BlaqBonez ( NG ) Falz ( NG ) KHALIGRAPH Jones (KE) – W...
Paul Pogba has had his ankle cast removed as he steps up his attempt to return from injury for Manchester United. The France international has only started one Premier League match since August in a campaign heavily interrupted by his fitness woes. United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was unable to put a timescale on Pogba’s return to action ahead of Wednesday’s derby against Manchester City in the EFL Cup. But Solskjaer reported Pogba has made a key step in his recovery following surgery, as has fellow midfielder Scott McTominay, who is no longer wearing a knee brace. “It’s hard to put timescales on long-term injuries because they also need the training before [being] injury-free and need to be fitter,” Solskjaer told reporters. “Paul’s had his cast off and Scott took his brace off so at least they can now start doing some work on the grass.” Reports have suggested Pogba and McTominay are both targeting injury returns after the mid-season break, with United to play Chelsea on February 17 ...
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