WB Provides 82.6 Mn USD for Ethiopia to Alleviate Effects of COVID-19

ENA April 3/2020 The World Bank (WB) has approved 82.6 million USD in grant and credit to help Ethiopia mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

According to a press release of the bank, the project will provide much needed emergency funds to help Ethiopia fill critical resource gaps in its public health emergency preparedness.

The new COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project of Ethiopia is designed to help the country develop counter measures to lessen the devastating effects of the virus.

The project will support the National Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19 by financing the procurement of medical supplies and equipment, building diagnostic capacity and training, improving the health screening of people entering into the country, and establishing quarantine, isolation and treatment centers, the release added.

It will also support communications and information outreach activities to encourage behavioral change, such as social distancing, hand washing and sanitation.

Furthermore, the project will help the country to reduce the potential impact of the epidemic on health systems, social services and economic activity.

The press release quoted WB Country Director for Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Eritrea, Carolyn Turk as saying that “although Ethiopia has achieved significant gains in improving health outcomes and strengthening its health system, the COVID 19 outbreak is expected to challenge the nation’s public health preparedness and response systems and negatively impact the economy.”

TheWorld Bank is rolling out a 14 billion USD fast-track package to strengthen the COVID-19 response in developing countries and shorten the time to recovery, it was learned.