CAMME Ceremony Remarks, Ambassador André, Djibouti Ministry of Health Warehouse
Monday, August 17, 2020, 11:00 a.m.
Good morning Dr Ahmed and Ms. Neima. These are difficult times, as the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. Djibouti’s response is among the most effective of all the countries in the world. I congratulate you for that remarkable achievement.
Together with Deputy Commanding General of the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa Brigadier General Damian Donahoe, it is my pleasure to present a new RNA extraction machine to the Ministry of Health. This machine will allow Djiboutian doctors and researchers to study and verify local strains of coronavirus and other infectious diseases. It will provide an essential technology in the Government of Djibouti’s strategy to fight the global pandemic. It will greatly expand Djibouti’s testing efforts.
This will be the third testing machine offered by the United States to the Government of Djibouti. The donation is part of a larger program spearheaded by the Department of Defense, the International Atomic Energy Agency and USAID to reduce the risk of, prepare for, and respond to humanitarian disaster.
Since the start of the pandemic, the U.S. military has delivered a PCR testing and an RNA extraction machine, 25,000 latex gloves, 4,000 masks, 500 hygiene kits, and 60 hospital beds with mattresses to the Government of Djibouti. USAID provided IT equipment and the United States funded another PCR testing machine through the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The U.S. Department of Defense Humanitarian Assistance Program supports other efforts in Djibouti as well. In the past three years, the program provided more than $2.9 million in projects to Djibouti, including libraries, clinics, water system repairs, veterinary exchanges, and medical equipment and supplies. This includes three libraries completed this year and two health clinics that are currently under construction.
I mention this today to highlight how dedicated we are to helping Djibouti fight the coronavirus and how broad our cooperation is in meeting humanitarian challenges. We are in this fight together.
I would like to conclude by saluting the people of Djibouti for their perseverance and resiliency during this crisis. I congratulate all of you for your efforts in containing the spread of the pandemic. Thank you!
