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SARAJEVO, April 12 (FENA) - Director of the United States Agency for International Development in BiH Nancy J. Eslick signed a memorandum of understanding with UNICEF Representative in BiH Rownak Khan at a ceremony held this morning at the UN office in Sarajevo that was also attended by the US Ambassador to BiH Eric Nelson and UN Resident Coordinator Ingrid Macdonald.
The new two-year program "Strengthening Social and Health Care in Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina" will address its devastating impact on BiH citizens, especially socio-economic impacts. Covid-19 has dramatically slowed planned economic growth, reflecting the incomes of many in BiH, but also the education of children, preventing them from learning the necessary skills.
The United Nations emphasizes the need to address the impact of Covid-19 on the economy and society as a whole. As the implementer of this project, UNICEF will encourage social entrepreneurship, support the efforts of the BiH authorities to vaccinate citizens, and other health services in returning people to work and eliminating problems in education that have disproportionately affected vulnerable students. Vaccination activities include improving the so-called cold chain, electronic immunization monitoring system and risk communication, and training of health professionals. The UN also believes that in addition to serious health risks, the lack of vaccination could lead to reduced productivity and consumption, negatively affect the business of companies and create permanent financial damage, USAID said.
This will help BiH initiate activities in the fight against the consequences of the pandemic. It is important to support people’s return to work, to an environment that guarantees they will stay healthy, and to enable students to continue learning the skills needed for a successful career after graduation.
“A long-term, robust, open economy is key to BiH's path to self-sufficiency,” said US Ambassador Eric Nelson.
UNICEF Representative in BiH Rownak Khan stressed that "the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in financial vulnerability of children and families. She also said that vulnerable groups of citizens are more affected than the average population.
“This is especially true for those at risk of extreme poverty and young people in the labor market. Through the activities of this project, UNICEF and USAID will support fact-based solutions about the most vulnerable populations and advocate for their systematic integration into policies, strategies and programs. As part of the interventions on this project, UNICEF and USAID will support solutions based on context and evidence and advocate for their systematic integration into policies, strategies and programs,” said Khan.
In addition to these new funds, the United States has provided USD 2.2 million in financial assistance to combat Covid-19 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including USD 1.5 million for UNICEF. Globally, USAID has provided billions of dollars to fight Covid-19 in more than 120 countries.
(FENA) A. B.
