NEARLY a dozen countries including Lesotho will get lifesaving medicines while others will receive increased access to oxygen supplies needed to treat COVID-19 patients under U.S.-led initiatives announced September 23.

The other countries involved include Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Senegal

“This pandemic taught us the importance of expanding access to critical medical supplies,” U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

While COVID-19 vaccination rates in low- and middle-income countries have quadrupled since September 2021 (from 13% to 56%), Thomas-Greenfield said more must be done “to address the equity gap in global vaccinations and protect people at risk of severe illness.”

Greenfield outlined three initiatives during a September 23 COVID Global Action Plan Ministerial on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.

Ten countries will participate in the pilot programme to help those at highest risk of severe COVID-19 get tested and receive antiviral medications early in their illness if they test positive.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria will launch these “test-to-treat” pilot programs in partnership with host governments and public health experts. The programmes will help countries act quickly in case of a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The pandemic strained global supplies of medical oxygen, needed for treating patients with severe COVID-19. Before the pandemic, roughly half of inpatient facilities in Africa had reliable access to medical oxygen, Thomas-Greenfield said.

The U.S. government has already committed $50 million to provide medical oxygen, install oxygen storage tanks and upgrade medical infrastructure that delivers oxygen to patients’ bedsides.

Through this initiative, USAID will work with the governments of Lesotho, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ghana, Jamaica, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zambia.

Partners will also establish a global clearinghouse that will facilitate countries’ access to needed medical supplies.