USAID AND UNICEF ENSURE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IN NEED DURING COVID 19
Pristina, April 23, 2020 – Today, United States Ambassador to Kosovo Philip S. Kosnett, acting Minister of Health Arben Vitia and UN Coordinator for Kosovo Ulrika Richardson visited the distribution center of the Red Cross in Pristina. The visit marked the official launch of the partnership between United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the fight against COVID-19.
“The United States has partnered with UNICEF in Kosovo to help the families and institutions that are on the front lines of this battle… Only a unified international response is effective against this global threat. Together we can defeat COVID-19.” said Ambassador Kosnett during the visit.
The U.S. Government through the United States Agency for International Development has awarded $1.1 million to provide operational support and increase Kosovo’s response capability to stop further transmission and mitigate COVID-19’s impact.
UNICEF is one of the USAID implementing partners and will focus on:
- ● Development and implementation of a Kosovo-wide hand-washing campaign together with infection prevention/control messaging to promote personal hygiene;
- Procurement and distribution of critical hygiene supplies (including soap, detergent, and hygiene kits) for the most at-risk households, facilities, and communities, including Roma and Ashkali communities;
- Development of targeted and accurate information on how to prevent COVID-19 and seek assistance, through context-appropriate channels and social media, and mass media targeting children and their caregivers as well as pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and
- Collection and analysis of data on affected communities.
The U.S. Government-funded family hygiene kits will be distributed in 26 municipalities. In addition, family and baby hygiene kits for marginalized pregnant women and children will be distributed in 31 municipalities, and the hygiene kits for family medical centers will be distributed in 38 municipalities.
For more information, please contact Xheraldina Cernobregu, Development Outreach
and Communications Specialist, 049-95-85-95.
