South African President and African Union chairperson (AU) Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africa will commit of $1.3-million in response to the global coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic at Monday’s pledging conference organised by the European Union and the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board.

Addressing delegates during the virtual summit, Ramaphosa extended a call to other countries to make tangible commitments to bolster the global effort, but in particular to support countries that bear the brunt of poverty, inequality and underdevelopment.

He also pledged South Africa’s Biovac Institute to support the efforts of developing a vaccine. 

He said Africa has responded to the coronavirus pandemic with urgency and purpose.

“This is a health emergency of truly global proportions, yet developing countries are particularly vulnerable to its impact. We require coordinated and consistent international action so that all countries are sufficiently capacitated,” he said.

The African Union has established a Covid-19 Response Fund to direct resources towards the continent’s response. To date, a total of $61-million has been committed to the Fund and to support the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

He pointed out that African countries were supporting each other through regional coronavirus task forces to oversee screening, detection and diagnosis; infection prevention and control.

He announced that South Africa was making significant investments in science and innovation to fight the pandemic, and is also participating in several global research initiatives and lending support to African researchers.

“In addition to the investments we have made to these and other research initiatives, South Africa is committing an amount of $1.3-million at this historic pledging conference. Now, more than ever, the world needs solidarity and cooperation to mobilise and guide investments, and drive delivery towards equitable access for new Covid-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. Working together, we shall overcome this pandemic,” said Ramaphosa.