KOICA Collaborates with UNDP to Share K-Quarantine with DR Congo... Plans to Establish Additional Diagnostic Centers

Supporting Women's Association Facing Hardship Due to Lockdown: 20,000 Masks Locally Produced and Delivered to Vulnerable Groups

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] KOICA announced on the 9th that it will carry out a project to enhance the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DR Congo) response capacity and resilience to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Central Africa in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

DR Congo, one of the poorest countries in the world, has suffered severe human casualties and economic losses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to job and income reductions among vulnerable groups. In addition to COVID-19, various infectious diseases such as Ebola virus, measles, and malaria are spreading, raising concerns about the collapse of the healthcare system if COVID-19 cases surge.

To support DR Congo, which is facing multiple crises due to the spread of COVID-19, KOICA and UNDP will jointly provide $500,000 (approximately 600 million KRW) by October to implement projects in the capital Kinshasa, including △ establishing a second COVID-19 diagnostic center △ establishing a medical waste management system within the second diagnostic center △ supporting local production of personal protective equipment (PPE) by women’s enterprises (women’s associations).

KOICA and UNDP plan to build the second COVID-19 diagnostic center at the National University of Kinshasa and install a medical waste management system to prevent secondary infections within the diagnostic center. A capacity-building project for medical personnel to immediately operate the center and facilities will also be promoted simultaneously, and K-quarantine know-how and experience will be transferred.

On the 8th (local time), KOICA purchased 20,000 masks produced by the women’s association and delivered them to vulnerable groups. Going forward, KOICA plans to purchase additional masks in cooperation with the KOICA trainees alumni association and distribute them to marginalized groups such as nursing homes and orphanages.

Lee Dong-gu, head of KOICA’s DR Congo office, said, “This project was urgently budgeted and implemented as part of the project budget that has been promoted since 2019 with UNDP to establish peace and sustainable development systems in DR Congo.” He added, “In a situation where the survival of vulnerable groups on site is seriously threatened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we plan to respond urgently in cooperation with UNDP and our government to not miss the golden time.”