Speeches Shim
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In Tajikistan, the strength of the community is based on tradition. Traditions are what bind people together, creating shared experience and reminding everyone that they are part of something larger than themselves. Elderly men and women act as stewards of these traditions, ensuring that they are incorporated into everything, from weddings to ceremonies that celebrate the birth of a child. While these traditions are important to honor, bringing together thousands of people for Friday prayers at the mosque or hundreds of people for a traditional wedding amidst the COVID-19 pandemic can put individuals at increased risk of sickness and even death.
The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed an additional $1.5 million to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Kingdom of Thailand. In coordination with the Royal Thai Government, USAID will partner with local and international organizations to increase its support to curb the pandemic.
Hanoi, April 27, 2020 — The United States Government recently announced a global financial commitment for countries affected by the novel coronavirus COVID-19, including Vietnam. Today, the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink announced that the U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing nearly $4.5 million to its implementing partners in Vietnam and is working in collaboration with the Government of Vietnam to meet priority outbreak response needs.
Malaria thrives in times of crisis. When Ebola struck Africa and disrupted health care, malaria spiked. When Cyclones Idai and Kenneth tore through the Republic of Mozambique, malarious mosquitoes flourished in floodwater. As the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela caused by the criminal Maduro regime spiralled out of control, malaria soared.
USAID’s Raising Voices, Creating Opportunities project aims to improve public attitude towards the rights of persons with disabilities and their access to transportation and health facilities in Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, and Quang Nam provinces. Persons with disabilities have limited information about the pandemic because they are often isolated and/or cannot read or hear the news. In addition, many persons with disabilities have extremely low paying jobs, such as selling lottery tickets. While the COVID-19 social distancing policy has protected the health of some persons with disabilities, it has also taken away their income. For these reasons, they are one of the most vulnerable groups during the pandemic. Hence, on April 16, USAID's Raising Voices, Creating Opportunities project and the Vietnamese Federation on Disabilities co-organized a virtual conference to map support for persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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