Paraguay receives support to strengthen the management for future pandemics

ASUNCIÓN, March 6^th, 2024. Out of 133 countries around the world, Paraguay has been selected to receive a $10,5 million grant to implement the national project entitled “Strengthening Critical Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Functions in Paraguay” sponsored by the Pandemic Fund having the goal to reduce the health, social and economic impact in case of future pandemics.

Paraguay and Suriname are the two countries from the Americas selected among 133 proposing countries around the world to receive the international grant which is aimed at strengthening the prevention, preparedness and response functions towards pandemics in the country through disease surveillance and through an early warning system, better collaboration between labs and the development of workforce capabilities.

The launch of the project was carried out today this Wednesday having the attendance of the Health Minister, Teresa Barán; the Minister of Information Technology and Communication, Gustavo Villate; the resident coordinator of the United Nations (UN), Mario Samaja; the o Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) representative, Marcelo Korc; the acting United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative, Ralph Midy; and, virtually, the executive head of the Pandemic Fund, Priya Basu, among other authorities.

“The Pandemic Fund is proud to help this important initiative that will strengthen Paraguay’s preparation towards a pandemic. Paraguay is leading the way with its innovative use of digital tools and other state-of-the-art technologies. By integrating the advanced digital surveillance system and using the latest developments in education about public health, this project sets a new standard for the detection and quick management of health emergencies”, noted Basu.

Likewise, Minister Barán highlighted that it’s an honor for Paraguay to have been selected as one of the countries that will be benefited with the Pandemic Fund. “It is a great challenge because we will demonstrate that we can work on an articulated basis with the other ministries, with international organisms, and I am sure that we will be able to set an example to the world preparing Paraguay for the next pandemic”, she said.

“This project is a milestone for the country because it proposes an intersectional job and added efforts and compromises to work towards the prevention, preparedness and the response to different pandemics”, said PAHO/WHO representative, Marcelo Korc.

The Pandemic Fund was created in September of 2022, developed by the World Bank in close collaboration with WHO and other partners. It is the first multilateral finance mechanism dedicated to providing grants to help low- and middle-income countries be better prepared for future pandemics. The Fund’s operating model involves cooperation with governments, UN agencies, multilateral development banks, global health initiatives, the private sector philanthropies, and the civil society.

The national project entitled “Strengthening Critical Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Functions in Paraguay” will be implemented during the next three years, led by the Ministry of Public health and Social Welfare having the support in terms of implementation of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), UNICEF, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and PAHO/WHO.