Please confirm your presence by Tuesday, 6 October 2020 at 12.00 pm EAT

 

WHAT:      Handover of 900.000 COVID-19 test kits to the African Union (AU) / Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) donated by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in the framework of the European Union (EU) initiative ‘Team Europe’ and delivered by an EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flight.

 

WHO 

Official Guests

1.    H.E. Mr Thomas Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission

2.    H.E. Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles, EU High Representative/Vice-President of the European Commission

3.    H.E. Mr Janez Lenarčič, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management

4.    H.E. Mr Stephan Auer, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany

5.    H.E. Ms Birgitte Markussen, Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to the African Union

6.    Dr John Nkengasong, Director, African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

 

Other Participants

·           Members of cabinets

·           Representatives of AUC, the EU Delegation to the AU, the Embassy of Germany and GIZ

·           Press/Media

 

WHEN: Thursday, 8 October 2020

 

WHERE:             

Meeting Point: Addis Ababa Hyatt Regency Hotel, Lobby (Room TBC)

Handover Ceremony: Bole International Airport (Addis Ababa Airport Cargo Terminal – Humanitarian Hub

 

PROGRAMME                   

7.30 am: Meeting point at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Lobby (Room TBC): Breakfast

8.15–8.30 am: Transport provided from the Hyatt Regency Hotel to Bole International Airport (WFP/AU Continental Logistics Warehouse)

8:30AM-9.30AM: Handover ceremony of 900,00 COVID-19 test kits

 

 

OBJECTIVES          

The objective of the press point is to highlight the strong partnership between ‘Team Europe’ and the AU in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The altogether over 1.4 million COVID-19 test kits are part of the overall ‘Team Europe’ support to the AU Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 Outbreak, amounting to over 26 million EUR with contributions from the EU, Germany, Austria, Spain and Sweden. The support also covers the deployment of rapid responders and community health workers, delivery of medical equipment, provision of in-country and virtual trainings, risk communication as well as enhancement of preventive measures and surveillance capacities. The current delivery is a third batch of an overall set of 1.4 million test kits delivered in July, August and October.

 

The handover ceremony of the test kits is taking place in the framework of the visit to Addis Ababa of H.E. Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles, EU High Representative/Vice-President of the European Commission and H.E. Mr Janez Lenarčič, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management. Following the handover ceremony, they will continue their visit, meeting H.E. Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to discuss the AU-EU Partnership.

 

BACKGROUND

The test kits have been financed by the German Government with 10 million Euros and sourced by the German Epidemic Preparedness Team (SEEG). The SEEG was initiated in 2015 by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in response to the West African Ebola crisis. The SEEG brings together the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Charité Clinic, the Robert Koch Institute and the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine. In addition to providing testing materials, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the SEEG will team up for External Quality Assessments in the designated African reference laboratories, using the provided test kits for benchmarking and accreditation of quality and effectiveness of testing in Africa.

 

The total Team Europe global response package stands at EUR 36.5 billion, combining resources from the EU, its Member States, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. This support focuses on addressing the immediate health crisis and the resulting humanitarian needs; on strengthening partner countries’ health, nutrition, water and sanitation systems and their research, preparedness and response capacities; as well as on supporting them in alleviating the social and economic consequences of the crisis. At least EUR 6.8 billion is supporting countries in Africa. Additionally, a considerable part of the overall Team Europe guarantees of EUR 2.9 billion will also benefit Africa.

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Media inquiries

 

Mr Molalet Tsedeke, Tel: 0911-630631; Email: molalett@africa-union.org; Directorate of Information and Communication; AU Commission.

 

 

Mrs Wynne Musabayana | Head of Communication Division | Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission |

E-mail: musabayanaw@africa-union.org

 

 

Mr Biruk Feleke | Press Officer | EU Delegation to the African Union |

E-mail: Biruk.FELEKE@eeas.europa.eu

 

Mr Martin Lohr | Head of Press | German Embassy Addis Ababa | E-mail: pr-1@add.auswaertiges-amt.de

 

About the African Union

The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision: to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission.

 

Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en

 

About Africa CDC

Africa CDC is a specialized technical institution of the African Union which supports Member States in their efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, prevention and control of diseases.

 

Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org