Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Mongolia Michael S. Klecheski today, March 24, announced during a press conference of the Ministry of Health that the U.S. government through the U.S. Agency for International Development is providing more than MNT 3.3 billion or USD 1.2 million to the World Health Organization (USD 700 thousand) and the United Nations Children's Fund (USD 500 thousand) to support the Mongolian government’s COVID-19 response.

The U.S. assistance will support the Ministry of Health to enhance risk communication and community preparedness, provide critical supplies, improved water, sanitation, and hygiene services, and assist with data collection and analysis. USAID programs will also help the Health Ministry protect health workers and patients, expand laboratory testing capabilities, conduct outbreak 

surveillance, and provide quality patient care.

During the announcement, Ambassador Michael S. Klecheski said, “The United States is proud to have Mongolia as a strategic partner and the aid of today is a clear demonstration of our unwavering cooperation. As a friend and third neighbor, U.S. will continue to stand by our Mongolian friends and neighbors in this challenging time,”

“Mongolia came to terms with this reality early on and the Government’s response has been impressive” he noted, commending all health professionals for their hard work and their unwavering dedication to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Extending gratitude to USAID, WHO Representative in Mongolia Dr Sergey Diorditsa underlined that this is a clear demonstration of how efforts can be joined against COVID-19. “This assistance will greatly contribute to the efforts to contain and fight the spread of the disease.”

UNICEF Representative in Mongolia Alex Heikens also informed during the press conference that UNICEF, under the assistance, will disseminate specific messages to children, pregnant and nursing mothers, caretakers, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities to provide reliable information on precautions to take and how to deal with isolation and with stress in the family, mount hand-washing campaigns, improve hand-washing facilities in schools and health facilities, and provide necessary supplies such as soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfectants. He also spoke of the measures UNICEF is taking towards children and parents amid the heightened state of readiness.

Minister of Health D.Sarangerel expressed sincere gratitude to the U.S. government for the assistance and undertook to collaborate with WHO to protect Mongolians from infections and ensure that health care services are provided promptly should an outbreak occur and with UNICEF in the above-mentioned efforts.