Dr. Riek Machar and the Minister of Health, Elizabeth Acuei Yol receive the check on Tuesday, April 7th, 2020. Photo: Ministry of ICT & Postal Services.

The high-level task force on coronavirus has received a 100,000-dollar check from IGAD as financial support against COVID-19.
The IGAD contribution was handed over to the High-Level Taskforce by Amb. Tesfaye Negassa, head of IGAD Liaison Office in South Sudan.

After receiving the check in Juba this afternoon, the first vice president Dr. Riek Machar described the contribution as valuable to the government of South Sudan.

He added that they have appealed to international partners, IGAD and the international community to help South Sudan combat the virus.

“We would like to thank the IGAD staff and we would like to thank his Excellency Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu the executive secretary of IGAD, for bringing this generous contribution to the campaign against coronavirus,” said Dr. Machar who is also the deputy chairperson of the Task Force on COVID-19.

“We want to thank IGAD on behalf of the task force and on behave of the government for this good work that they have done.”

For his part, Amb. Negassa stated that IGAD headquarters, IGAD countries, and IGAD staff in Juba contributed what he described as a small amount of money.

He added that the regional body will continue to contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

“All IGAD staff are ready to fight this pandemic disease COVID-19 and IGAD staff at the headquarters, as well as some IGAD countries and IGAD staff here in Juba, have contributed a small amount of money, this is not really the last, it will continue,” he stated.

Amb. Negassa also expressed hope that the pandemic will be contained soon.