(Ecofin Agency) - France announced the disbursement of €30 million to help the Ivorian government strengthen its response plan against the coronavirus pandemic. The financing agreement was signed between the two sides on June 9.

The resources will be granted under the Debt Reduction-Development Contract (C2D) and a sovereign loan from the French Development Agency; €12.5 million (CFA8.26 billion) will come from the Debt Reduction-Development Contract (C2D) while €17.8 million (CFA11.74 billion) will come from AFD.

C2D's contribution will be used to acquire reagents, inputs, and equipment for the patient care laboratories; finance electrical work at the Pasteur Institute; rehabilitate and equip seven laboratories; support the communication of the National Institute of Public Hygiene (INHP) and research.

AFD's sovereign loan will be used to purchase biomedical equipment for the new public health pharmacy. Part of this amount will be paid directly to the Treasury to refinance payments already made.

As a reminder, Côte d'Ivoire's health response plan is estimated at CFA 95.88 billion (around €146 million). The latest official data reports 3,881 confirmed cases, 38 deaths, and 1,869 recoveries in the country.

André Chadrak