COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Humanity needs leadership and
solidarity to defeat the coronavirus

The Coronavirus pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time. Since its emergence late last year, the virus has spread to every continent except Antarctica.  

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

Countries are racing to slow the spread of the disease by testing and treating patients, carrying out contact tracing, limiting travel, quarantining citizens, and cancelling large gatherings such as sporting events, concerts, and schools.

The UN’s Framework for the Immediate Socio-Economic Response to the COVID 19 Crisis warns that “The COVID-19 pandemic is far more than a health crisis: it is affecting societies and econ­omies at their core. While the impact of the pandemic will vary from country to country, it will most likely increase poverty and inequalities at a global scale, making the achievement of SDGs even more urgent.

UNDP response

Every country needs to act immediately to prepare, respond, and recover. The UN system will support countries through each stage, with a focus on the most vulnerable.

Drawing on our experience with other outbreaks such as Ebola, HIV, SARS, TB and malaria, as well as our long history of working with the private and public sector, UNDP will help countries to urgently and effectively respond to COVID-19 as part of its mission to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and build resilience to crises and shocks.

“We are already hard at work, together with our UN family and other partners, on three immediate priorities: supporting the health response including the procurement and supply of essential health products, under WHO’s leadership, strengthening crisis management and response, and addressing critical social and economic impacts.” UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner

UNDP in Sri Lanka 


UNDP Sri Lanka recognises that COVID-19 is much more than a health crisis. Drawing on our experience with combatting other outbreaks such as Ebola, HIV, SARS and Malaria, as well as our long history of working with the private and public sector, UNDP stands ready to help Sri Lanka to urgently and effectively respond to COVID-19 as part of its mission to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and build resilience to crises and shocks.

To help Sri Lankans make informed decisions about the safety of themselves and their families, an automated service by UNDP in Sri Lanka and 99X Technology was launched via Facebook Messenger. 

You can now get the latest information, news, statistics, travel advice & FAQ's answered about #COVID19 in සිංහල, தமிழ் & English 

An automated service by UNDP in Sri Lanka and 99X Technology

Like all hospitals around the world, hospitals in Sri Lanka also faced shortages of medical supplies, specifically Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At a critical time where community effort was needed the most, UNDP was able to support the need of the hour through its Climate Change Adaptation Project (CCAP II) by teaming up with Green Coop. Through this initiative, garment factories established through the project in the Polonnaruwa area were approached, seeking a solution to address the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by exploring methods of local production.

From their hard work, 500 PPE kits for healthcare workers, 250 patient safety kits and 1,400 masks were donated to healthcare workers in the frontlines in Colombo and Polonnaruwa.  The safety kits were handed over to the Governor of the Western Province Mr. Roshan Goonatileke and Provincial Director of Health Western Province Dr. Damayanthi Jayathilaka. 

 

Things you need to know about COVID-19

Protect yourself and others by doing the following and making informed decisions during this health crisis

While we do this, we must also consider ways to prevent a similar pandemic from recurring. In the longer term, UNDP will look at ways to help countries better prevent and manage such crises and ensure that the world makes full use of what we learn from this one.

Ending the COVID-19 pandemic is our duty. Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures. We face a colossal test, which demands decisive, coordinated and innovative action from all, for all.

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