Support to the Mauritian Government’s COVID-19 Solidarity Fund

The Australian Government has contributed MUR5 million to the Mauritian Government’s COVID-19 Solidarity Fund to support efforts to protect the most vulnerable people and post-COVID economic recovery.

Australia’s High Commissioner to Mauritius Ms Jenny Dee announced today with the Mauritian Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Dr the Hon Renganaden Padayachy a contribution of MUR5 million by the Australian Government to the Mauritian Government’s COVID-19 Solidarity Fund to support efforts to protect vulnerable communities.

The Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr the Hon Renganaden Padayachy, wishes, on behalf of the Government of Mauritius, to express his profound appreciation to the Government of Australia for its invaluable and continued support to the realization of our economic and social development agenda, through the financing of several projects in Mauritius.

The Government of Mauritius is grateful for the generous contribution of Australia to the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund in this very difficult moment faced by our country. This contribution will assist Mauritius in supporting the vulnerable citizens affected by the Covid-19 virus. This collaboration between Australia and Mauritius is a testimony of the excellent relationship that exists between our two countries.

Commenting on Australia’s contribution, High Commissioner Dee said: “Australia and Mauritius are longstanding partners, and the region has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. We support Mauritius’ focus on helping those most vulnerable to access food, health and other essential services at this time and hope the Solidarity Fund will also play an important role in post-COVID-19 economic recovery.”

This support builds on the efforts Australia is undertaking to work with international and regional partners to minimise and respond to the threat, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

“The virus respects no borders,” Ms Dee said “and we are pivoting our development assistance programme to respond to the humanitarian and development needs.”

“Health workers here in Mauritius, Australia and across the globe are on the frontline every day protecting communities and we thank them for their tireless efforts,” Ms Dee said.

Australia has supported international health emergency preparedness and response efforts through the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security (CHS) Initiative. CHS was established in October 2017 to help contain infectious disease threats with the potential to cause social and economic harm on a national, regional or global scale.

Australia is also supporting international financing mechanisms for health emergency preparedness and response including through the World Health Organisation’s Health Emergencies Programme which is heavily engaged in the international response to COVID-19 and the World Bank’s Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility.

In recognition of the global priority to develop an effective vaccine, Australia’s world leading medical institutions – University of Queensland, the Doherty Institute, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) – are working with other international partners in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to fact track a COVID-19 vaccine.