MISAU already spent $20 million on Covid-19; Greater Maputo plan needs $27.8 million – report

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MISAU already spent $20 million on Covid-19; Greater Maputo plan needs $27.8 million – report

2:05 CAT | 09 Sep 2020

Photo: O País

Health Minister Armindo Tiago says that the Ministry of Health has already spent US$20 million fighting the coronavirus pandemic, and that there is “complete documentation” regarding the disbursement of that amount.

Since the first case of Covid-19 in the country was diagnosed in March, national and international partners have announced various measures to support the government and the Ministry of Health (MISAU) in facing the pandemic.

“We have complete documentation,” Minister Tiago said, emphasising that all expenditure had been in compliance with the principles of transparency.

For the application of the funds in question, MISAU had opted for the direct award mechanism, as any public tender – the general rule – would be more bureaucratic in the context of the pandemic.

Tiago said challenges persist in fighting the pandemic plaguing the world since last December.

In turn, the mayor of the Matola municipality, Calisto Cossa, noted that the Maputo metropolitan area, consisting of Maputo and Matola cities and the village of Boane, was the locus of the majority of the country’s Covid-19 cases.

Speaking on behalf of all three municipalities, Cossa said there was a plan to reverse the increase in the number of people in Greater Maputo becoming infected, but that it would cost an additional two billion meticais [ around US$27.8 million] to implement.

“In fact, at the moment, the plan we have drawn up will cost almost two billion meticais,” the Matola mayor said.

The project envisaged involves activities including communication campaigns and the disinfection of public places.

In order to make all the pertinent adjustments to this plan, the mayors of Maputo, Matola and Boane sat at the same table this Wednesday. The minister of health, Armindo Tiago, also attended the meeting..

By Romeu Carlos

Source: O País