The kingdom is ahead of many countries in terms of financial management of the pandemic
The Special Fund dedicated to the management of the coronavirus Pandemic (Covid-19), set up on the instructions of King Mohammed VI, has reached so far about 28 billion dirhams (MMDH).
According to the data correlated by the Directorate of Studies and Financial Forecasts (DEPF) under the Ministry of Finance with those prepared by the American investment bank Goldman Sachs, it emerges that Morocco is, at this date, in 4th place in the world in terms of resources mobilized as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Thus, Morocco has mobilized nearly 2.7% of GDP (about $119 billion in 2019) and is preceded by only three countries on the world podium: Sweden (6% of GDP), Chile (4.7% of GDP) and New Zealand (4% of GDP).
The kingdom is thus ahead of a number of countries, such as France (2% of GDP), Italy (the nation most affected in Europe by the coronavirus so far, but which has agreed to contribute only 1.2% of its GDP), Great Britain (1.4% of GDP) and the United States (0.5%).
And yes, the king of Morocco loves his people more than the economy!
Against Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and pending the development of a vaccine, in at least one year, chloroquine, an anti-malarial molecule, could well be the miracle solution.
Despite the caution of the World Health Organization, Morocco has officially decided to adopt chloroquine treatment. Indeed, they have requisitioned all available stocks of Nivaquine and Plaquenil, manufactured in Sanofi Maroc’s industrial site in Casablanca.
The Ministry of Health decided, in consultation with the “Technical and Scientific Committee of the National Program for the Prevention and Control of Influenza and Acute Respiratory Infections”, to introduce chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in the therapeutic management of confirmed cases of Covid-19.
A note to this effect was sent on March 23rd to the directors of university hospital centers (CHU) and regional health directors. These protocols include dual therapy based on the antimalarial drug Nivaquine 100 mg, taken three times daily for 10 days and a three-day macrolide antibiotic Azithromycin.
Doctors also recommend good hydration and a suitable diet during the course of treatment, with an emphasis on vitamin C-rich products. Paracetamol is indicated for fever and the antiemetic Primperan for vomiting.
In addition, 4 to 5 types of biological analyses, which results can be obtained in 30 minutes, should be carried out in parallel by the patient, mostly by blood tests, inflammatory assessment, urea and creatinine, renal activity, glycemia, cardiac markers, hepatic and muscular pathologies, etc.
How morocco acquired and manages Chloroquine stocks?
On March 20th, the French media outlet RFI announced that Sanofi, a French pharmaceutical company, had sold its stock of Plaquénil, normally destined for the sub-Saharan African market, produced in its Casablanca factories, to the Moroccan authorities. This transaction would be coupled with an additional order.
Thus, according to correspondence from the Ministry of Health, the chloroquine stocks are to be managed by regional supply unit managers and the Pandemic at the level of the Regional Health Directorates in a secure room, while drawing up a list of normative delivery by therapeutic class addressed to the care structures. Any prescription must be made on a standard prescription, accompanied by the necessary information on the condition that these medicines are to be dispensed.
The Ministry insists that all precautionary measures must be taken to respect the supply circuit in order to guarantee the safe use of these medicines. At the same time, the process of prescription and administration must be specifically and regularly monitored to ensure that these medicines are actually delivered to patients. To this end, traceability should be ensured through the establishment of a management register.
Particular attention should be paid to the use of these drugs for pathologies other than Covid-19. To this end, the introduction of an information medium should allow “rigorous monitoring of this use”.
The Moroccans are also participating
Internet is now accessible free of charge to students
The educational platforms put online by the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training are now accessible free of charge to all Moroccan students. One week after the launch of the distance learning program, the three Moroccan telecommunications operators (Maroc Telecom, Orange and Inwi) have finally decided to grant students free access to the ministry’s sites and platforms.
The announcement was made through a joint statement of the supervisory ministry and the national operators. This measure will help to alleviate family burdens in this period of crisis.
However, this free access, which comes temporarily within the framework of the national mobilization for the fight against the coronavirus, concerns exclusively the sites and platforms dedicated to distance learning, put online by the ministry, and excludes access to YouTube.
A company manufactures and distributes free masks
The Tangier-based textile company “Yara Confeccion” has manufactured protective masks that it distributes free of charge to people who, despite the declared state of a health emergency, still have to go to their workplaces.
The locally manufactured masks, in strict compliance with the necessary sterilization measures, are distributed in the streets and main avenues of the city of Tangier, to national security agents and professionals operating in the transport and retail sectors. The company’s managers took advantage of the drop in production activities at the plant to launch this highly appreciated solidarity initiative.
The company is thus participating in the campaign to fight against the new coronavirus and is responding to the solidarity expected from all citizens to overcome this ordeal. A manager of the factory expressed the wish to see this initiative serve as an example for other textile companies in Tangier. According to him, all citizens, regardless of their professions or means, are expected to support the initiative and contribute to efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
Also, the Moroccan company SoftGroup has taken up the challenge of producing 10 million masks that will be made available free of charge to public institutions in Morocco. The SoftGroup holding company took up the challenge to produce the 10 million masks in a short period of time. All means have been devoted to the production of these masks, which are now rare worldwide,” said a statement from the company.
Moroccans making donations
Despite these difficult times, the Moroccans never cease to show the best of themselves by helping each other out. Indeed, in these times of confinement, many Moroccans show their good heart by collecting donations to help the neediest families.
Affected by the alarming situation of the families only being supported by widows and elderly people whose daily income has ceased after the closure of several shops such as cafes and restaurants, young people from Tetouan, for instance, have taken part in the initiative to collect donations from benefactors to distribute food aid to the needy people affected by the measures taken against the spread of the coronavirus. A compassionate and caring initiative.
And of course, this is not limited only to the city of Tetouan, as there are several self-help initiatives in several Moroccan cities to deal with the coronavirus, which continues to show the generosity, kindness, and compassion of Moroccans that never cease to impress.
Associations created to help the homeless
Many homeless people are taking care of in Morocco, especially now due to the coronavirus. Associations are working hard to gather the homeless with the help of a mobile unit to transfer and house them.
This is a challenge to not only help the homeless but also stop the spread of the pandemic in collaboration with local authorities and specialized groups in civil society.
During a broadcast on Tangier regional radio on Monday, March 30th, the Minister of Solidarity and Social Development, Jamila Al Mossali, mentioned that in the last two weeks about 3,000 homeless people have been given shelter and more than 162 people have been able to return to their families home.
The national initiative to provide shelter for the homeless is continuing and the Minister also stated the preventive measures put in place in the reception centers to deal with contamination.
The homeless are subjected to necessary medical examinations before they can receive shelter and food. A humanitarian operation to be acknowledged that once again proves the solidarity, sympathy, compassion, and kindness of Moroccans.
Many famous Moroccan celebrities are collaborating to help their country
Many Moroccan personalities well known to the Moroccan public have each posted videos of themselves, each one passing on a message to their people and country talking about the coronavirus, the precautions, and actions to take against it. This includes many Moroccan actors and singers (such as Saad Lamjarred, Fnaire, Manal BK, etc.), but also many football players, TV hosts and the list goes on and on.
Some artists have also decided to start sponsoring families. This idea was born thanks to the famous Moroccan musical group, Fnaire. After they helped families, they nominated Saad Lamjarred to follow their path and to do the same thing. He gladly accepted and also nominated other famous Moroccan personalities, who also agreed.
The Moroccan singer Ahmed Chawki, along with a former kickboxing champion, also contributed by distributing food and even extra money to 500 needy families in Tangier and Tetouan’s neighborhood.
While many Moroccan celebrities and institutions in the country have decided to contribute to the coronavirus fund through financial donations, Abu Azaitar, for his part, has opted for the material.
Abu Azaitar is a well known Moroccan mixed martial arts (MMA) champion. He recently donated equipment to Moroccan hospitals that are worth millions. In the video below he showed some equipment that he’s going to send to the Moroccan kingdom since he is currently in the Netherlands. He also posted in another video dozens of beds, announcing that he was also going to send them to Morocco.
All of these are brilliants ideas that is and will, fortunately, continue to gain popularity to the delight of all families in need.
Many Moroccans sang the Moroccan national anthem to cheer up due to the confinement
Morocco is a very lively country where there are always people outside at any time. The sudden confinement, well taken care of by the king, is envied by many but has affected many Moroccans who have to stay at home, and only go out for basic necessities. It is certainly not in their nature to always remain locked up in their homes.
Nevertheless, several countries including Morocco are proud of the measures taken by their king and the Moroccan authorities. On Saturday, March 21st, many Moroccans sang the Moroccan national anthem through their windows and balconies to lift their spirit up and to show that they are in agreement with their country and will overcome and beat this virus.
In the video below you can see at 0:25, the inhabitants of a residential building in Casablanca confined to their homes due to the new coronavirus pandemic, who stood at their windows and balconies to sing the Moroccan national anthem. The video showing this performance went viral on social networks.
