France aids five Southeast Asian countries in COVID-19 fight

The French Development Agency (AFD) has announced a grant aid of EUR2 million (US$2.19 million) for the COVID-19 pandemic response in five Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam.

Samples for COVID-19 testing at the HCM City Pasteur Institute (Photo: VNA)
Samples for COVID-19 testing at the HCM City Pasteur Institute (Photo: VNA)

In a recent statement, it said the funding will be provided for Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines to strengthen the COVID-19 surveillance, diagnosis and response systems in the countries.

The AFD noted it hopes the countries’ laboratories will benefit from direct support for the response phase of the COVID-19 epidemic in such aspects as reinforcement of equipment, purchase of diagnostic kits, and acquisition of personal protective equipment.