Canada becomes first country to support COVID-19 therapeutics via new UNICEF fund
Low- and middle-income countries set to benefit from Canadian contribution in support of global equitable access to lifesaving COVID-19 medical supplies
05 May 2021
NEW YORK/COPENHAGEN, 5 May 2021 – The Government of Canada has made the first-ever contribution to the therapeutics pillar of UNICEF’s newly-launched Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator Supplies Financing Facility (“ACT-A SFF”). The generous contribution of $230 million CAD ($182 million US) is earmarked specifically for the procurement and delivery of COVID-19 therapeutics for low- and middle-income countries.
This contribution comes in the context of UNICEF’s work with other ACT-A partners to ensure early access to COVID-19 therapeutics. The funds will support the procurement and delivery of supplies for therapeutic interventions, such as Oxygen therapy-related supplies and Dexamethasone. One of the initial transactions supported by this Canadian contribution will be the urgent provision of 1,450 oxygen concentrators for India as part of UNICEF’s broader response to the country’s ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The contribution will also support access to quality-assured, approved, novel therapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies and antivirals, as they become available.