Coronavirus: ECOWAS leaders stress containment, prevention and fight against pandemic

24 Avril 2020

Abuja, Nigeria, April 24 (Infosplusgabon) - West African leaders on Wednesday stressed that the containment, prevention and fight against COVID-19 (coronavirus) remain a major priority for the sub-region.

At virtual extraordinary session on Thursday they expressed their determination and willingness to do everything possible to protect citizens and residents of the Community and combine their efforts to find a lasting solution to the health crisis.

In a communique issued at the of their deliberations, the heads of state and governments of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) expressed concern about the negative social, economic, financial and human security impact of COVID-19 on all Member States, as well as "the serious threat posed to the regional integration process and regional peace and security agenda".

They noted that forecasts indicate that the economic growth rate, initially projected at 3.3%, would fall to 2% if the pandemic were to end in June 2020. "It would fall to -2.1% assuming that the region had not taken adequate measures to slow down the spread of the virus and if the pandemic continues beyond the second half of 2020 as projected by International Monetary Fund (IMF)."

The Session was held with a view to coordinating and strengthening the fight against the coronavirus. As at 22 April 2020, ECOWAS had a cumulative number of 6,083 cases consisting of 4,232 active cases, 1,793 recoveries and 158 deaths.

The heads of state and governments made a series of decisions on two key areas: stabilisation and economic recovery and the fight against COVID-19.

The communique said the leaders decided to develop jointly, an economic response plan taking into account the fight against the spread of the pandemic and a post-pandemic economic recovery plan and issue long-term treasury bills and bonds to finance critical investment needs to support the private sector and revive economies.

They decided "to provide substantial support to the social sectors" such as distance learning tools, strengthening of health systems and facilities, easy Internet access, for the most disadvantaged segments of society.

hey agreed to deploy through the Central Banks, tools, means and significant liquidity to support the financial sector, in particular banks and financial institutions, in providing assistance to the private sector, especially small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs); microfinance institutions, and mobilise additional resources from the international community to address the economic and social challenges confronting Member States.

They decided to support the African Union’s initiative to negotiate with partners for cancellation of public debt and restructuring of private debt of African countries; and implement urgent measures to support the local production of consumer goods, including agricultural products, thereby reducing the import bill for these goods.

They decided to set up a support programme for the pharmaceutical and health protection equipment manufacturing sector, whose output covers barely 20% of the region’s current consumption needs; and avoid the imposition of import restrictions on other ECOWAS countries,  particularly with regard to essential goods such as drugs and food.

In terms of the fight against COVID-19, the communique said the summit invite the ECOWAS member states to make their contribution to the African Union Solidarity Fund and strengthen cooperation between the African Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) in order to make support to the ECOWAS member states more effective.

They agreed to strengthen cooperation between member states in research, training and experience sharing in health matters in general, and in the fight against COVID 19 in particular; and assess the situation thoroughly, on a case-by-case basis, before lifting the measures put in place to protect the population.

They called for provision of timely epidemiological information on a daily basis to WAHO in order to enhance regional coordination and collaboration during the pandemic and increase testing, continuously trace and treat people suspected of contracting the virus.

The West African leaders also decided to open humanitarian transport corridors for medical and other personnel in the fight against the pandemic, to enable them to transport and deliver required personnel, equipment and materials and allocate at least 15 percent of their annual budget to strengthen their health care systems.

The leaders thanked all partners, particularly the African Union, African Development Bank, United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, European Union, the G20, for the important initiatives taken to support the African continent in the fight against the pandemic.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/ASD/GABON2020

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