(Ecofin Agency) - The Ivorian government announced an investment of CFA1 billion into scientific research, mainly to better the response plan against the current pandemic facing the world.

According to Adama Diawara (pictured), the minister of higher education and scientific research, the resources will enable researchers to manufacture drugs against the coronavirus and “to provide clear scientific answers to fundamental questions in the fight against the pandemic.”

This government decision to dig more into the research field was sparked by the development in Madagascar of the Covid-Organics, a (disputed) plant-based treatment against the disease. While the international community is striving to develop a vaccine, Africa is more into finding a cure.

Let’s note that the new financing from the government is a support to the strategic support program for scientific research (PASRES), which plans to invest CFA197 million in 15 research projects in the health, technology, sociology and economic sectors across Côte d'Ivoire. The country has reported to date at least 2,951 affected people, 33 deaths and 1,467 recovered.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou