CAIRO: Canada granted Egypt $500,000 in aid to combat the negative effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as the funds will go toward procuring necessary equipment at the Sadr Al-Abbasiya Hospital in Cairo.
The announcement of the grant came during Tuesday's meeting between Egyptian ministers, Canada's Ambassador to Egypt Louis Dumas, and the UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt Randa Aboul-Hosn.
During the meeting, they also discussed supporting Egypt's health sector and how to combat the spread of the virus.
Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt's minister of international cooperation, said Canada is among several development partners that have come forward to help the country.
The ministry seeks to advance development efforts in various sectors through the principles of economic diplomacy, following the UN goals of sustainable development.
Al-Mashat said the government has developed an urgent response plan for the health, economic and social impacts of COVID-19. She also praised Egypt's ministry of health and the huge efforts it has made since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
Development cooperation efforts with Canada in 2021 have resulted in partnerships worth $28 million in various sectors such as empowering women and youth, she added.
